Residents of Southeast Washington, D.C. are expressing disbelief and disappointment following the announcement of an impending CVS store closure.
On July 9, the CVS located near the Penn Branch Shopping Center on Pennsylvania Avenue will shut its doors, leaving many local residents in a state of shock.
“Total shock,” commented Paul Grant, President of the Penn Branch Community Association. “Our neighbors are very disappointed here.”
The closure is particularly concerning for local seniors, who make up more than 40% of the neighborhood population. As Grant noted, the CVS location was highly accessible for them to obtain pharmacy services and everyday retail goods.
Fred Dickens, a regular customer who visits the store at least once a week, expressed his frustration with the news.
“I’m an older guy and I don’t want to travel around,” Dickens stated. “It’s right across the street. [That’s] very convenient.”
In a statement to WUSA9, CVS confirmed the decision to close its store at 3250 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
“We’ve made the difficult decision to close the CVS Pharmacy at 3250 Pennsylvania Avenue SE in Washington, DC, on July 9,” the statement read.
CVS assured customers that all prescriptions would be transferred to a nearby location at 2724 Good Hope Road SE, located less than a mile away.
The company emphasized that it prioritizes patient access to pharmacy care and mentioned factors that led to closure decisions, including local market dynamics and community store density.
“Maintaining access to pharmacy services in the communities we serve is an important factor we consider when making store closure decisions,” the statement said.
The CVS spokesperson also highlighted additional delivery options available for prescription refills through CVS.com and the CVS Pharmacy app.
Despite these reassurances, community leader Keith Hasan-Towery, the ANC Commissioner for the area, expressed concerns that the closure would disproportionately impact the elderly and disabled residents.
“It’s just not really conducive for the disabled and seniors to actually access it in a manner in which they do here,” Hasan-Towery remarked.
Local residents are frustrated with what they perceive as inadequate communication from CVS regarding the reasons behind the closure. While theft has been cited as a significant factor, many community members suspect that deeper issues might be influencing the decision.
As the closing date approaches, frustration is mounting. So far, over 1,200 individuals have signed an online petition urging CVS to keep the location open.
In a show of solidarity, community residents plan to protest outside the store in the first week of July, symbolizing the voices of approximately 47,000 residents living within a one-mile radius.
“We thought that we would show some sample of the 47,000 residents that live in a one-mile radius of this store to really put some pressure on CVS to reconsider closing this store,” Grant explained.
Should CVS proceed with its closure, community leaders worry about the impact on their residents, particularly seniors who heavily depend on the pharmacy’s accessibility.
“If they’re going to quietly close this one, how do we know they won’t close Skyland?” wondered Grant regarding the nearby CVS location where prescriptions will be moved.
He emphasized the community’s intention to seek alternatives, possibly turning to locally-owned pharmacies, which they hope could aware of their needs and foster a sense of community.
As the closure date draws near, residents remain committed to advocating for their community’s accessible healthcare services.
image source from：wusa9
