KENMORE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Western New Yorkers are growing increasingly frustrated with long waits and difficulty reaching staff at area Walgreens locations, as local pharmacies struggle to handle the influx of customers following the closure of more than 60 Rite Aid stores last fall.
Facebook posts from customers detail repeated failed attempts to contact pharmacy staff at locations like the Walgreens at Hertel and Parkside, with some saying even their doctors cannot get through to the pharmacy department.
Three months after the Rite Aid closures, the remaining pharmacies — both chain and independent — are being inundated with new customers, creating significant operational challenges.
“We are seeing a big problem in our communities with shortages,” Chuck Barone, who owns IvyLea Pharmacy on Elmwood in the Village of Kenmore, said.
The closure of more than 60 Rite Aid stores in Western New York has placed enormous pressure on remaining pharmacies, affecting their ability to serve customers effectively…