HARDWICK — A sign on the door of the Walgreens store in Hardwick reads, “NOTICE — PHARMACY CLOSING . . . on 9/30/24.”
The store has been closed since July 11, due to flooding from the Lamoille River. An employee confirms the store will not be reopening while the pharmacy operates out of the trailer in the parking lot until it closes.
The Hardwick Health Center learned of the news just yesterday and had no comment on possible plans to help area residents navigate changing pharmacies. Store employees say they learned the store will be closing just last week.
A Walgreens pharmacy trailer sits in the parking lot outside the store that’s been closed since July 11, when Lamoille River flood waters rushed in, leaving it wet and muddy. Walgreens has announced the pharmacy trailer will close September 30 and the store will not reopen, leaving Hardwick without a local pharmacy.
The Walgreens in Morrisville closed just two years ago. The Hardwick pharmacy’s door sign refers customers to the nearest Walgreens store, reading, “Prescription records will be available at 412 Broad Street, Lyndonville, VT 05851.”
With no other local pharmacies, area residents may soon need to travel to a pharmacy in Morrisville, or the St. Johnsbury, Newport or Montpelier area.
Walgreens’ closing continues a long history of pharmacy changes in Hardwick. Cox Pharmacy in downtown Hardwick burned in the fire that also closed Mer-Lu’s Restaurant, leaving Hardwick without a pharmacy until Brooks Pharmacy opened on Wolcott Street in the spot vacated by Aubuchon Hardware. Brooks was replaced by a Rite-Aid and later by Walgreens. Each change has resulted in confusing and sometimes difficult problems with prescriptions, say customers, but none of those will be as difficult as losing a local pharmacy entirely.
Customers are now asking, what will I do when I need a prescription quickly and driving the better part of an hour’s round trip seems impossible?
Earlier this summer Walgreens announced plans to close stores across the U.S., saying 25% of its stores were under-performing. As part of plans to rejuvenate its operations, Walgreens said it intends to implement closures across its estimated 8,600 American stores over the next several years.
A Facebook post on August 26 suggested starting a letter-writing campaign to the company imploring them to keep the Hardwick store open.
When briefing the Wall Street Journal, Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth indicated the impending store closures bear significant weight, making up a “meaningful percent” of the approximately one-fourth of less profitable locations.
While commenting on the difficult decisions facing the company, Wentrought commented, “We continue to face a difficult operating environment, including persistent pressures on the U.S. consumer and the impact of recent marketplace dynamics which have eroded pharmacy margins.” He continued, saying “Our results and outlook reflect these headwinds over the next three years. We are also taking a series of actions and making investments to enhance the customer and patient experience.”
The sign on Walgreens’ door at 82 Route 15 W, Hardwick ends, “If you have questions before 9/30/24, please contact the pharmacy staff at 802-472-6961.”
