Walgreens rival with over 9k locations is set to close drugstore next month after major changes

CVS has announced plans to close another of its 9,000+ locations as the company and other retailers change strategies amid a difficult selling environment.

The Farmington Avenue location in West Hartford, Connecticut will close permanently on September 20, 2023.

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Although this is the only planned closure in Connecticut, the company plans to close about 900 stores across the United States as part of a new cost-cutting strategy.

CVS has decided to change course and focus more on healthcare operations and less on retail.

Longtime customers of this Connecticut location are unhappy with the closure.

One customer spoke to Fox61 and explained: “It’s just a shame because this is where our pharmacy is located. We pass here every day.”

For her, it’s more than just a shop: “We always go in to buy random stuff. It’s a fun activity for the dogs; they are also dog friendly.”

Another explained her emotional connection to the site: “I have a warm spot for this building. And I hope they do something good with it.”

Past customers now have to make another trip to find a CVS location to fill their prescriptions and must submit their scripts by close of business or they will automatically switch to the South Mainstreet location.

According to Senior Communications Director Amy Thibault, residents’ access to healthcare was a factor: “Maintaining access to pharmacy services in the communities we serve is an important factor that we consider when making decisions about store closures.”

“Other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density, and ensuring there are other geographic entry points to meet community needs.”

This closure comes after five other locations across the country recently closed:

CVS is not alone in its closures, as its competitor Walgreens made a similar decision in July.

In 2019, Walgreens made the decision to close 200 locations and doubled that decision in 2023 with 150 more locations.

While it’s still unclear which Walgreens locations are closing, the decision likely reflects weak profits.

Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreen Boots Alliance, said, “Our third quarter performance did not meet our overall expectations and we are disappointed that we have had to change our guidance for fiscal 2023.”

Another competing drugstore has also closed branches with 150 closures since 2021.

A spokesman for Rite Aid told the US Sun, “The decision to close a store is something we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors, including business strategy, leasing and rental considerations, local business conditions and profitability, and store performance. “

“We screen every neighborhood to ensure our customers have access to healthcare services, whether it’s at Rite Aid or a nearby pharmacy, and we’re working to seamlessly transfer their prescriptions so there’s no service disruption.”