CVS is closing another location in a long string of pharmacies shuttering citing crime as a reason.
The retail pharmacy has long been expecting closures, having announced a number of them in 2021.
1
Three years ago, the company announced a plan to close 900 locations, as of 2024, 300 closures are still anticipated.
CVS announced in early 2024 that it was aiming to nix the remaining 300 stores by April.
Now, another location closure has been revealed as residents cry out over a store in Yorkville, New York.
Set up near 1241 Lexington Ave., near East 84th Street, the location’s last day will be on May 16, reported the local Patch.
This closure follows two more in the area that occurred in January 2024 and September 2023.
In all three closures, media was provided with “nearly identical” statements from spokesperson Amy Thibault.
He called the choice to close a “difficult decision,” and noted that “nearly 60” locations still remained in the area.
The “local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density, and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community,” were reasons Thibault gave regarding making the decision.
CVS, like many retailers closing up locations and scrambling for safety measures, has cited that increasing crime is a factor in choosing which locations to shutter.
This Yorkville CVS was victim to a shocking incident in November of 2023.
A man used a hammer to smash out the exterior window of the retailer and sliced open another individual’s hand.
Despite its run-in with crime, residents are distressed at the news, having relied on the CVS for their dailies and medication.
‘A BRIDGE TOO FAR’
Vice President of the East 86th Street Association even blamed the incident for the store closing.
“F**k!!! Shoplifting and getting their windows smashed in by crazy shoplifter had to be a bridge too far! I’m angry,” he wrote on X.
THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF ‘ZOMBIE CVS’
A CVS in Columbia Heights, Washington, DC closed up following years of shoplifting that often left its shelves empty.
From Dawn dish soap to L’Oreal shampoo, MiraLax, combo packs of DayQuil and NyQuil, shampoos, and feminine products, many items remained behind plexiglass of what little inventory the store had.
Referred to as the “zombie CVS” by the Washington Post, the store —which was plagued by constant theft — announced it would be closing on February 29, back in January.
The impending closure came months after a disturbing video made rounds on social media last October showing the CVS location with nearly all of its shelves empty.
Shoppers at the CVS told local NBC affiliate WRC-TV they saw the closure coming.
“It is a loss but there was nothing done really to protect the store,” a CVS shopper said. “You know, kids would run in and just grab stuff and run out, and people would just watch them go.”
Another shopper called the closure “terrible” and said the store was “the only one that we have to get the medicine and stuff in this immediate area.”
“I’ve shopped there. So many drug stores have closed on the [Upper Eastside] NYC keeps voting for these soft on crime politicians,” called out another user.
“No! I love that CVS, and have memories going there as a kid,” replied another distraught customer.
Shoppers will have their medications moved to Lexington Avenue, at East 87th Street on default if they do not change the location themselves.
Many fear that more closures are to come, hitting their own much-needed pharmacies.
“I’m worried that my CVS in Park Slope might be next. Every time I’m in there, someone is shoplifting, and their stock is smaller and smaller,” commented one user.
“Happening down in the Village too. I’m so sick of this,” added another.
PHARMACY DOOMSDAYS AHEAD
Several pressures are affecting all pharmacy companies, most of them relating to crime, both violent and theft-related.
In October 2023, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is in the process of closing around 200 stores nationwide.
Walgreens announced in June last year that it would cut 150 nationwide stores by August 2024.
These closures come as manufacturers have been hit hard financially and are raising costs to compensate.
Drug manufacturers like Pfizer have raised prices on over 500 medications, according to Reuters, adding pressure on consumer pharmacies.
Opioid lawsuits have also put financial strain on big pharmacy chains.
CVS and Walgreens agreed to pay out about $5 billion each to settle lawsuits over their role in the opioid addiction epidemic.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines