TOLEDO, Ohio — Point Place residents will have to travel farther than usual to pick up their medications as the Rite Aid pharmacy on Summit Street is closing next week.
Toledo City Council Member Theresa Morris, who represents the district that encompasses Point Place, said the city is working to bring in another pharmacy.
"What we're doing is we're meeting with other businesses to see if they would be interested in this building. What we don't want to do is we don't want to have another empty building," she said.
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Morris has been in contact with independent pharmacies to see if any could temporarily serve residents in the area while the city works on bringing in a more permanent pharmacy.
"I've even talked to my local pharmacist, Erie Drug, in an effort to talk to the local pharmacies, independent pharmacies to see if they would be interested in at least a presence," she said.
Morris says she has also reached out to Walgreens and CVS, the latter of which plans to meet with her to discuss a potential presence in Point Place.
Morris said the city wants to give people closer options than the other stores that are further away.
"Sometimes your insurance isn't very friendly at some of those locations and sometimes they're overwhelmed, so we just want to give people choices," she said.
Residents are also hoping for another option in this familiar space.
"Around these neighborhoods, we don't have any pharmacies," said resident Point Place Alejandra Sadin. "Open a Walgreens or CVS, I don't know which pharmacy, I hope they open a new pharmacy here."
Another resident, Irene Martinez, said a solution is necessary as the Summit Street Rite Aid is a conveniently located store her family visits often to get prescriptions.
"Especially if we've got grandkids. If we need some Tylenol, Pampers real quick, this was a quick fix for us," she said.
Valerie Manders, a resident who uses the Rite Aid three to four times a week, said she will have to go out of her way now to get what she needs.
"I don't know it just makes me sad that all the pharmacies are closing like there is nothing near us anymore," Manders said.
The pharmacy is set to close on Wednesday. The store will remain open until Sept. 15.
Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and has since shuttered stores across the country, including dozens in Ohio and Michigan.