Where have all the pharmacies gone?

When my family moved to East Meadow from  Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, 29  years ago, we adapted to the growing phenomenon of the big-chain pharmacy. They were everywhere, especially where we moved.

We signed up for the rewards programs. The stores, as large as supermarkets, offered everything from frozen foods to everyday essentials. More importantly, they took care of my family’s health needs. We received our free COVID-19 masks and multiple COVID shots and other vaccinations. Extended store hours, 24-hour prescription services and drive-throughs were especially important when my children were young and I didn’t need to take them out of the car.

All that, however, has changed. Walgreens has moved out of the neighborhood, and the store remains empty. The company recently announced it will close another 1,200 stores nationwide over the next three years. Rite-Aid, walking distance from my home, closed in the spring, and its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Until recently, whenever I called Rite-Aid with a question, I knew the pharmacist by name. Talking with the same person was comforting. I have not fully adjusted to starting over with a new pharmacist or the overall business philosophy of pharmacy chains expanding beyond their traditional services. CVS has partnered with Aetna, and Walgreens acquired the parent of CityMD. Who knows what the future holds?

While smaller, independent pharmacies are available, I prefer a relationship with a full-service company, not unlike the neighborhood pharmacy I once knew.

I grew up with Silver Rod Pharmacy, where my family bought our over-the-counter and prescription medications and personal needs. I purchased my parents’ birthday presents there: Dad’s Hai Karate cologne and aftershave and Mom’s Tigress perfume. The store was reliable and consistently there for four generations of my family, and — guess what? — it’s still there.

As my daughter and son grew older, living on Long Island, it was important for them to be independent and shop for their own needs. They became comfortable calling the pharmacist to order prescriptions.

Our new family pharmacy, CVS, has multiple Long Island locations. We print our coupons there and shop for nonprescription needs. I get texts with sale offers and prescription information.

I like earning reward points and using the points at all locations. If I can’t find a particular item in my East Meadow CVS, I can visit the one in Wantagh or Levittown, which has plenty of parking. My wife, Lauren, and I routinely shop at the North Bellmore branch on Friday evenings.

If I need help finding an item, the staff directs me to the right spot. I feel bad asking for something locked in a display case, but the staff does not seem to be inconvenienced. I prefer a cashier’s assist with my purchases, and I like the interaction. On a prior visit, I had a random discussion with a cashier about Scooter Pies and Fudge Town cookies

Finally, the best time of year to shop, I found, is the day after a holiday. After all, Halloween fun-size candies, chocolate bunnies, and chocolate Valentine hearts all taste the same at 50% off. Maybe even better.

 
Reader Howard Lev lives in East Meadow.