On May 1, 2023, the CVS Pharmacy at the intersection of Farmington Avenue and Whitney Street in Hartford, CT, permanently closed its doors.
While the West End CVS store may have appeared to be just another one of the thousands of cookie-cutter stores the chain operates, it represented much more to those of us who live in the neighborhood.
In a food desert such as the West End, the Farmington Avenue CVS served as a grocery store of-sorts for many people of all ages.
Even though pharmacy hours had recently been reduced, local residents of all ages have been able to get their prescriptions filled there seven days a week. In conversations with the pharmacists at that CVS, I was informed more than once that well over 1,000 prescriptions were filled there every week.
In the past few years, security guards were stationed in the front of the store, and an increasing number of items were being kept under lock and key at the West End CVS. Whether you were seeking air freshener, toothpaste, an anti-perspirant/deodorant, cologe/perfume, allergy pills or a host of other items, you would have to ask an employee if someone could open the locked display case.
Many times, employees of our neighborhood CVS told me about people coming in the store, grabbing multiple items, then walking out the door, seemingly oblivious to activated alarm systems. Staff members at the store also told me that the shoplifting issue there was a factor in the store's closing.
If you discovered that you needed a ruler, Sharpie marker or notebook, you knew that CVS would probably have something to fit the bill. When some thumbtacks, packaging tape, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, children's toys and games, greeting cards, stuffed animals, over-the-counter medicines, beauty and grooming products and even small hand tools were needed, CVS was often the place where these items could be purchased.
For years, I purchased at least two 2-liter bottles of A & W Zero Sugar root beer every week at the Farmington/South Whitney CVS store. Even though I could get most of the items at supermarkets or other CVS stores, the convenience of being able to walk across the street to get some ice cream or a loaf of Pepperidge Farm bread will be sorely missed.
The former CVS property is situated diagonally across from the apartment complex where I've lived for more than 20 years. That store was a regular destination-point for people of all ages, and in my opinion, brought a sense of positive action and stability to an area that can definitely use both attributes.
If you take a look at Farmington Avenue between South Whitney Street and Sisson Avenue now, in May 2023, you will see a lot of empty storefronts. The clothing store next to Amigo's Market, at least two businesses in the building that houses West End Pizza, the bar and store next door at Farmington and Sisson, the former Cinerama/Braza property and now, CVS are all empty.
Hopefully, a small grocery store, dollar store or restaurant will occupy the former CVS property before too long. The South Whitney location would be ideal for a Dollar Tree, C-Town or 7-11 outpost, or as a new location for the Family Dollar that now sits at the intersection of Farmington Avenue and Sigourney Street.
As with other West End residents, I grew to value the importance of a business like CVS in an urban environment, and I got to meet lots of employees who were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
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