Independent pharmacies in Canfield, Poland close

STAFF REPORT

Independent pharmacies in Canfield and Poland have closed and transferred customer files to Giant Eagle.

Brad Bartels, who owned both pharmacies, could not be reached to comment about why Buckeye Pharmacy, 120 N. Broad St., Canfield, and Wittenauer Gift Shoppe & Discount Pharmacy, 120 S. Main St., Poland, closed last week.

Rocky Fumi, a former co-owner of Buckeye Pharmacy who still worked there part time, said he thought business had been stable at the Canfield store and didn’t know why it had closed.

He added, however, that prescription plans that have members refill maintenance medications through the mail have hurt local pharmacies.

Many major employers in the area have such plans, such as General Motors, Youngstown State University and government agencies, Fumi said.

“That’s why you don’t see many independent pharmacies anymore. They got killed by mail order,” he said.

Fumi and Tom McCabe started Buckeye Pharmacy in 1977 after working at other Canfield pharmacies. They sold the business to Bartels in 1996.

Bartels also had operated Bahmer’s Howland Pharmacy, but that business also has closed in recent years.