STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In an apparent cost-cutting move, Walgreens is consolidating operations, and closing two locations on Staten Island -- its Victory Boulevard location in Sunnyside that opened only two years ago, and one in Rosebank.
Last year, Walgreens -- the largest U.S. pharmacy chain -- announced that it would close 200 of its 8,000 stores in an effort to cut costs by $500 million.
Signs posted at the Walgreens at 1161 Victory Blvd. and at 570 Tompkins Ave. state that the stores are "permanently closing" on Oct. 20.
Pamphlets available at the Sunnyside store say the reason for closure is, "We are consolidating our resources to serve our communities better and more efficiently."
Of the employees at the location, Walgreens said: "All of our team members are important. We strive to transfer as many team members as possible, giving them preference of position and location based on open positions available."
All prescriptions at the Sunnyside pharmacy will be honored at any Walgreens or the Duane Reade at 630 Forest Ave. in West Brighton. The Tompkins store prescriptions will be transferred to the Walgreens at 2270 Clove Rd. in Grasmere, said Phil Caruso, a Walgreens spokesman.
"There is a process here and it's occurring over time," he said. "The decisions to close stores are never easy. We look at a variety of criteria, but essentially we are closing some under performing stores throughout our chain."
Some say the Walgreens located at the corner of Victory Boulevard and Clove Road is under-patronized due to the fact that motorists are only able to make a right-hand turn out of both entrances/exits of the store's parking lot.
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