More retail stores closing as neighborhoods lose essential retailers

Neighborhoods are losing key retailers that aren't being replaced

May 8, 2025 - 22:42
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More retail stores closing as neighborhoods lose essential retailers

Pharmacies used to be an essential part of the community. They have evolved over the decades and no longer offer soda fountains or food, but until very recently, they remained very important.

Yes, at the heart of their offering, pharmacies were places where you could pick up your drug prescription. In reality, most of these stores were so much more.

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In many cases, pharmacies like CVS or Walgreens stood in for grocery stores because they were more convenient. If you just needed some trash bags, a six pack of beer, and a can of soup, your local pharmacy met those needs.

Recently, however, these stores have become less important. Some of that is because many prescriptions are now filled via mail.

If you used to have to visit a local pharmacy once or twice a month to pick up medicine, you invariably bought other things. Take away the need to visit the store, and it loses all of those high-margin sales.