Out of refills at Wittenauer Pharmacy

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By ERIC HAMILTON

ehamilton@vindy.com

Judy Scotford has been getting her meds and shopping in the gift section at Wittenauer Gift Shoppe and Discount Pharmacy in Poland for at least 40 years. But the next prescription she fills will have to be somewhere else,

Wittenauer’s, owned by Brad Bartels, closed its doors for good Dec. 29. Located at 120 S. Main St., the business has been a pillar of the community for over four decades.

“I was really quite upset to hear of this, as I have shopped there for at least 40 years,” said Scotford. “The people employed there have always been so courteous and helpful, and I have found it to be such a great source for my prescriptions — easy to fill and refill and a handy location to everyone.”

Employees were notified the night before the closing and customers are slowly getting word, as some have even shown up at the store only to find it empty. Signs posted in the windows direct customers to take their business to the Poland Giant Eagle.

Scotford would rather not.

“It’s so much nicer shopping experience than the chains. I have also enjoyed the gift section and other areas in the store. Poland’s (and my) loss and, I am sure, very frustrating to many.”

Bartels also owned the Buckeye Pharmacy in Canfield and closed that store as well. He bought that business in 1996 from former owners Rocky Fumi and Tom McCabe. Fumi was surprised to hear that the stores were closing.

“I got a call about 9 p.m. the night before,” said Fumi. “We had no indication that it would be closing until then. You wouldn’t believe all the phone calls I’ve gotten every day from people really sad about this. We weren’t just about prescriptions, we were a part of the customers’ every day lives.

“The fact is that independent drug stores have suffered because the people we have been faithful to have been unfaithful to us. With their insurance plans, they are ordering by mail, so the sales are probably down because of that. I don’t fault [Bartels]; I’m sure he was put on the spot with this situation and had little time to make decisions.”

All the Buckeye Pharmacy business is being forwarded to the Giant Eagle in Canfield, who bought the Buckeye inventory and the customer list. A phone recording at the store welcomes the former Buckeye customers. Store officials would not comment on the closing of Buckeye and directed questions to their corporate headquarters.

“There’s not much I can do right now to help people,” said Fumi. “I have the greatest sympathy for the customers who are elderly or can’t get around and those we delivered to. I don’t fault Brad in this situation. We were treated very well at the store.

“We’re losing two great establishments. I knew there was a difference between the little guys and the the big boys, but I didn’t know how much until now.”