Topf's pharmacy closing

Carolina is great for hard to fill prescriptions. For some reason, they always seem to have them in stock. I hope they survive the behemoth CVS...

Marylargo, I do to, it seems thoses that like Carolina are faithful to it.

love Carolina! They deliver to Winchester Gardens on a daily basis. Sorry to see Topf's go too.

Sorry to say we stopped going there when they did not have prescription meds needed on several occasions and had to order, also recall they were not open at 9 a.m. many times as the sign said they would be.

Carolina delivers anywhere in the area on a daily basis. Their only downside is having more limited hours than the big chains. So I've occasionally had to fill an urgent Sunday or overnight script elsewhere, but was invariably disgusted by the customer service elsewhere and glad when said scripts were transferred back to Carolina (which they happily and adeptly facilitate).

I used C.V.S. in past. Then I found they were members of A.L.E.C. That means they were using the profits from my sales to work against my self interest.

I now use So. Orange. Yes, its a small amount of profit, but its the principle of the thing.

I like So Village Pharmacy. I find them particularly helpful when getting prescriptions via fax or phone from the doctors as they are very good at following up with everyone around to get the right prescription.

Carolina is great. They open closer to 930 despite what may be posted on door. Also the VM box stays full so dont expect to be able to leave messages. If you can overlook these things you will find a caring pharmacy.

I was a committed Topfs client until recently because of difficulty getting prescriptions and poor communication. I began using Walgreens on Springfield Ave. and have found their customer service excellent and their personnel very helpful. I also like the option of the drivethru window .

mod said:

I was a committed Topfs client until recently because of difficulty getting prescriptions and poor communication. I began using Walgreens on Springfield Ave. and have found their customer service excellent and their personnel very helpful. I also like the option of the drivethru window .

I go to this Walgreens as well. The staff is so courteous and professional and I like the drive thru a great option as well.

Wonder what kind of business will take over the space...

JustRide said:

Wonder what kind of business will take over the space...

Hair salon? Niche clothing shop? Or, my favorite: a "FOR RENT" sign that stays up for 2 years?

(Me? Cynical? Naah.)

bog said:

I like So Village Pharmacy. I find them particularly helpful when getting prescriptions via fax or phone from the doctors as they are very good at following up with everyone around to get the right prescription.

I love South Orange Pharmacy, but the terms of our new Caremark plan are just making it too hard to use them....the expensive maintenance drugs would cost hundreds more to fill away from CVS or mail order, and the cheap drugs would have to be filled monthly rather than quarterly. Just too many trips to the pharmacy to keep all scrips up to date monthly.

I'm not sure that drug chains should be allowed to own pharmacy benefits managers, since they can use them very effectively to drive business the way that CVS is using Caremark (including putting Walgreens completely off limits, I believe). But my family takes some expansive medications, and I can't afford not to play by their rules.

So I did what I could to keep S. O. Pharmacy in business from opening until now, and will have to hand over the torch to those of you with less bossy Rx plans.

Very upsetting.. i hope the workers find new jobs and the owners are able to reinvent themselves..
As a town we should all be upset.

meganlibrarian said:

JustRide said:

Wonder what kind of business will take over the space...

Hair salon? Niche clothing shop? Or, my favorite: a "FOR RENT" sign that stays up for 2 years?

(Me? Cynical? Naah.)

According to Mr. Dave, another pharmacy will be taking over the space. They are expected to open in about a month.

max_weisenfeld said:

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.

Indeed. A significant portion of the Walgreen's square footage is dedicated to anything but prescriptions. The prescription counter is usually in the rear of the store and treated like a red-headed step-child.

Just asked the folks at Topf's what is happening, they said they are closing today for a few weeks, then reopening under a new owner. Another example of MOL inaccurate gossip.

Actually that's pretty much what Joan Crystal wrote four hours before your post, but thanks.

donnieo said:

Just asked the folks at Topf's what is happening, they said they are closing today for a few weeks, then reopening under a new owner. Another example of MOL inaccurate gossip.

As noted by @apple44 that information was reported up thread.

These threads are community conversations and as such evolve. Common sense would dictate that you actually read prior posts before criticizing their content.

apple44 said:

Actually that's pretty much what Joan Crystal wrote four hours before your post, but thanks.

Right on time, as always.

So, Topfs is closing. The OP was accurate.

The space is rented and the store will be re-opening, under new owners. Thanks, Joan, for the update.

Scully said:

donnieo said:

Just asked the folks at Topf's what is happening, they said they are closing today for a few weeks, then reopening under a new owner. Another example of MOL inaccurate gossip.

As noted by @apple44 that information was reported up thread.
These threads are community conversations and as such evolve. Common sense would dictate that you actually read prior posts before criticizing their content.

No, the point is it begins with inaccurate info and not everyone reads it all to find out the truth, duh.

They reported what they knew. Others joined and the truth was arrived at. It's called a conversation, duh...

donnieo said:

No, the point is it begins with inaccurate info and not everyone reads it all to find out the truth, duh.


So, the thread begins with, "Topf's Closing." "Shutting down Monday."

This beginning information is not accurate? They will remain open on Monday?

As I said earlier:

'...Common sense would dictate that you actually read prior posts before criticizing their content. '

Sad. But as long as a chain business isn't going in there I will be happy.

Not a chain exactly; but, the new owner does have one other pharmacy - in East Orange.

I'm not surprised, I have been going to them for over 10 years and they were great, But the past 2-3 years they've gotten a bit messy, to not having the meds in stock,giving false dates as to when the meds will be ready,and even handing out the wrong prescription. One time they over measured my daughter's prescription gave us twice as much.

I would LOVE to support a local pharmacy but the hours always drive me to the big chains. I live in South Orange and walk past SO Pharmacy daily on my way to and from work. Every time I pass them, they are closed. Therefore I end up going to Rite Aid. It's just too inconvenient to plan to pick up every single prescription on a weekend due to limited weekday hours. Shame.

Heard that the barber shop that moved into the old toy store just closed. Is that true? That would just across the street from Topf's