Topf's pharmacy closing

Shutting down on Monday.

Nice people. The lights on Springfield Avenue just got dimmer.
Bummer,
Da UPS Store, George

WOW they have been there since I was a kid.... and that was a long time ago.

Oh, I'm sorry to read this......they've been there since well before we moved here. I wish them well, but hate to see an old, established business move on (I'm still missing Ken Pharmacy, because I enjoyed kidding around with Warren and Elliot!) and Young Cottage!

It's sad - they're such nice people over there. Admittedly, it was a little frustrating the last few times I tried to pick stuff up (they weren't ready or they couldn't get it in a timely fashion), but they were always very friendly and would try to help out by contacting other pharmacies, etc. Sorry to see them go and I wish them well.

Are they closing for a good reason (for them)? E.g., retirement?

No. After 17 years (I think I've got that number right), they're just not able to afford to keep it going anymore. :-(

Do they have, or did they ever have, a liquor license?

Wonder if the new Walgreens a few blocks down the street was a factor? I don't remember another pharmacy on SA before the Walgreens opened.

project37 said:

No. After 17 years (I think I've got that number right), they're just not able to afford to keep it going anymore. :-(

I just keep hearing this more and more. Small businesses can't afford the astronomical rents. If anything's hurting small businesses, this is it.

They are there since my daughter was born so it is over 30 years.

The person (manager?) that my wife spoken with gave that number so it might have been since they'd taken over.

What about those of us who have prescriptions at Topfs or who are still "owed" medications due to Mr. Dave's habit of giving partial fills on prescriptions? Is there any procedure being set up for transition?

ETA: My husband spoke with Mr. Dave a few minutes ago. All prescriptions are being transferred to a pharmacy in SO.

mumstheword said:

project37 said:

No. After 17 years (I think I've got that number right), they're just not able to afford to keep it going anymore. :-(

I just keep hearing this more and more. Small businesses can't afford the astronomical rents. If anything's hurting small businesses, this is it.

I don't think it's the rents, at least not on Springfield. I tried very hard to continue to patronize Topf's, but there have been an accumulation of small things that finally led me to move my business over to the new Walgreens about a year ago. We may have an emotional attachment to local businesses, but often they are simply not competitive. It takes a special businessperson to make it when going head to head with a well-run chain store. Words succeeds, Bunchers in Millburn succeeds (where the hardware store on Springfield did not), it looks like the Pharmacy in South Orange is doing all right, but Topf's was not able to do it. I am sorry to see them go, but not surprised.

I used to go there in the 80s and 90s, but I finally got tired of prescriptions not being ready on time. As OP said, nice people, but . . . I switched to Pathmark Pharmacy and have never been sorry.

max_weisenfeld said:

I tried very hard to continue to patronize Topf's, but there have been an accumulation of small things that finally led me to move my business

I don't feel comfortable beating a business while they're down, so I won't go into detail but will only say that a family member had similar repeated issues and I was not surprised when they also moved to a different pharmacy.

It is sad to see a small business close, I would rather have seen them fix their internal problems and rebound and continue doing business as it helps the character of the town. But sadly that does not seem to be the case here.

They have clearly been having cash flow problems for some time . They did not keep many medicines in stock and every prescription seemed to need to wait for a delivery which they wouldn't tell you until you called or went in to pick up.

I got tired of the routine so switched several months ago.

Any idea of what business will take that space?

If the space follows the trend of other spaces in the nearby blocks: it will be empty for at least 1 to 2 years. :-|

Sad. Been a customer for years. Dave is a great guy. Will be missed.

Meanwhile, have you seen the giant new CVS (I think I heard its' a CVS) going up next near the Pathmark on Valley were the A&P used to be?

spontaneous said:

max_weisenfeld said:

I tried very hard to continue to patronize Topf's, but there have been an accumulation of small things that finally led me to move my business

I don't feel comfortable beating a business while they're down, so I won't go into detail but will only say that a family member had similar repeated issues and I was not surprised when they also moved to a different pharmacy.

It is sad to see a small business close, I would rather have seen them fix their internal problems and rebound and continue doing business as it helps the character of the town. But sadly that does not seem to be the case here.

I've never seen a bad thread about Topf's while it was still open. I think it's okay to post once you know it won't affect the business...

steel said:

Meanwhile, have you seen the giant new CVS (I think I heard its' a CVS) going up next near the Pathmark on Valley were the A&P used to be?

Yes..and I honestly can't wait, since our healthcare plan uses Caremark, and has essentially forced us back to CVS. Very eager to walk out of the Millburn one for the last time...

While we've never used Topf's as a pharmacy, as kids we went there a lot for candy etc., and as an adult I did go in once in awhile for random things I thought they might have, so it's sad to see them close. I wish them well as they move on.

It's almost impossible for small independent drugstores to compete against retail chains like Walmart and CVS, and now online ordering of 3-month supplies for recurring medications, that many insurance plans are turning to.

The modern drugstore business model is based on making money with the front of the house. The Pharmacy part of the business is a lower (or no) profit business because so many people now get drugs through more efficient mail order health plans (as Jasmo says) and insurance (and Medicare) pays so little, but it draws customers into the building. The chains beat the local through buying power and effective management.

Jasmo said:

It's almost impossible for small independent drugstores to compete against retail chains like Walmart and CVS, and now online ordering of 3-month supplies for recurring medications, that many insurance plans are turning to.

My insurance company wants me to use mail order. I refuse. I use South Orange Pharmacy and am happy with the service I get.

We've always used Carolina. Love them. They go above and beyond, and were often (literally and metaphorically) life savers when my parents were ill.

Love Carolina Pharm. Same feelings as Suzie2 above. They have helped me over and over and over. I'm sad to hear about Topf's but just reminding folks that there are still a couple of independent pharmacies around.

I love Carolina too, I have been using them for years, and they are always on top of what my 93 year old mom at Winchester Gardens needs.