GIBSONBURG, Ohio — People living in the village of Gibsonburg are feeling a little uneasy because the only pharmacy in town is closing.
The CVS is set to close on Aug. 28. Mike Warren, a retired pharmacist who worked at the Gibsonburg Pharmacy before it transitioned to CVS in 2017, says this will leave nearly 50,000 people in the area without a nearby pharmacy. The closest ones are in Pemberville and Fremont.
Tom Marsh, who has lived in the village for 30 years, says the pharmacy has been a welcoming place for the community and will be a sad loss.
“We're very upset about it. So we hope that CVS will change their mind,” he said. "I have to go to Fremont, which is a lot further to drive and we've always enjoyed having it in town, so we'd like to have something come back."
Whitney Flick, a business owner next door to the CVS, says its proximity brought more customers to her shop. She's concerned about the impact if the building stays vacant.
“Losing the pharmacy is pretty detrimental to the town, so, we'd love to see a pharmacy in here. We'd love to see CVS stay or somebody come in here and take care of that role. It's needed,” she said.
Warren says the closure of the pharmacy could be particularly devastating to seniors.
"If they do not get their medication, some of these medications, if you do not take it, the blood pressure can double. Your diabetes will go out of control,” he said.
Gibsonburg is looking at several options to fill the void, though, said Village Administrator Marc Glotzbecker. He said the village has been in contact with lawmakers in recent weeks and is considering alternatives that include home healthcare and prescription pickup with nurses.
"They've all been very helpful as far as pointing us in the direction of what we need to do to obtain some grant funds to attract a pharmacy business for our community,” Glotzbecker said.