‘We can’t keep losing things’: CVS closing in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood

CLEVELAND (WJW) – In about two weeks, the CVS pharmacy that serves a good chunk of Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood will be closing.

“I wish the Lord and prayers they would stay there, you know, because a lot of people over there are sick and in wheelchairs.” Mary Williams said.

She lives about a block away from the CVS in a senior apartment community.

Williams and other seniors have mobility issues and they say having this store so close made things a lot easier.

The store has had problems with theft, but community members say more people benefit by having it here.

“So we got to go up to Chagrin and Shaker when I live live right around the corner and across the street and I don’t think that’s right to tear down our community when they keep saying they want to build it up,” Williams’ neighbor Salita Baker said.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for CVS says they will transfer all prescriptions to their Shaker Square pharmacy which is roughly two and half miles away, or they can choose at any of 10 other local CVS locations.

Amy Thibault says their customers can also use their CVS prescription home delivery service. Also, she says employees at the Kinsman Road location will be offered jobs at other stores.

The statement says closing the Kinsman store was a difficult decision. It reads, in part:

“Maintaining access to pharmacy services in the communities we serve is an important factor we consider when making store closure decisions. Other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community.”

But what’s happening at this CVS, activists say, is a symptom of what’s happening all over the city — pharmacies, banks, supermarkets and many essential services are all leaving the inner city.

“We can’t keep losing things. We’re going to fight until we can get some results,” Reverend Jimmy Gates said.

He’s been leading the charge to try to stop what he calls the abandonment of the inner city. He says companies have pulled out many underserved Cleveland neighborhoods.

Reverend Gates says seniors and single parent families are being left behind in areas that become service deserts.

“When people ride up and down Kinsman, they ought to see anything and everything they want to stop at. It ought to be attractive for people, but if you look now, you’ve got vacant lots, abandoned houses. We’ve got everything but that and we’ve got to change the narrative.” Reverend Gates said.

Gates and many others say they’ve reached out to CVS and other businesses to try convince them to keep their doors open.

However, the time may be up for the CVS, which is scheduled to close completely on July 18.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.