Bassam (Sam) Amin, Pharmacist in 2013
It was one, if not the only remaining small independent pharmacies left in the community. Now, sadly, it has just closed its doors. No prior notice had been given, leaving many to wonder what happened. A new sign on the front gate simply refers its customers to "any CVS pharmacy" to fill prescriptions.
Several people contacted me last week to make us aware of the closing, which came without prior notice to the pharmacy's loyal customers.
Reader Barbara wrote:
"No personal messages were posted as is often the custom with longtime independent businesses. The closing seems really abrupt. I was on the phone with them recently and there wasn’t any indication changes were in store."
"No personal messages were posted as is often the custom with longtime independent businesses. The closing seems really abrupt. I was on the phone with them recently and there wasn’t any indication changes were in store."
Allison, another reader, said:
Devastated! Any thoughts on this? This was the best pharmacy I've ever dealt with by a mile. Now we are foisted on the ever-unhelpful CVS.Would love to know the story behind this and what the pharmacists will be doing next. I want to thank them for years of supporting my family. "
Does anyone know more about the closing and what Sam and John, Wyckoff's Corners friendly pharmacists, are up to next?
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15 comments:
NO, NO, NO!
I'm devastated, too. Amazed. I love and depend on the the place so much that a few months ago,
I asked John, one of the two wonderful pharmacists, if they had a long lease.
He smiled and said something like “no problem”.
It was wonderful to have pharmacists know you, were caring, and available for
whatever you needed. I went to CVS years ago and had to cope with their revolving door
staff. Ugh.
Just had a flu shot from Sam last week. What on earth happened?
Augh! No!
Any suggested non-corporate replacements, either a walk or a short subway ride away?
This is the same way our Clinton Apothecary at Pres & Clinton closed. I happened to be out running at 530 am and saw our pharmacist Joe (now at Rite Aid) carrying out some boxes and pulling down the gate. When I returned an hour later there was a sign on the gate saying it was closed and customers could get prescriptions at Rite Aid.
I always filled my prescriptions here and bought the odd product if I needed it. They carried Ascripton, an off brand of aspirin that I liked. I went in to fill some eye drops and was told my insurance wouldn’t let me fill anything there anymore. I was forced to use the larger chain stores or Express scripts for other things.
That could be the problem Sam had. It’s expensive to buy drugs that can’t be dispensed. Patanol costs like 200 dollars. I grew up using a small pharmacy run by associates of my physician father. Then moving here I used the people at Renaissance Pharmacy. They had a little old guy to deliver if customers too sick to walk over to them. I’m sad for Sam. This is the way it is now. It would be great if CBS or Riteaid or Walgreens didn’t force people to walk through all the rows of crap just to get to the pharmacy counters.
Agree. This is heartbreaking. Going to Wyckoff Corner Pharmacy was always a pleasure. And CVS is always a soul-sapping nightmare
It's one thing that the store closed, but another thing that he sold or directed his customers to CVS. Sam previously worked for CVS and he hated it. Same with John. Both would talk about how the big chain pharmacies were terrible for the neighborhood and the people. But now CVS has our Rx information instead of direction his customers to locally owned pharmacies. See this for background info: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/nyregion/brooklyn-drugstore-wyckoffs-corner-pharmacy-in-cobble-hill.html. It really was a great store.
Something must be up to have an immediate closure, though having it so close to the end of the month suggests either the lease expired or he gave up the lease because business wasn't doing well. Or there's something else.
Here's his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bassam-amin-10833148
Maybe this is what happened? I went into the store a couple of years ago to buy hydrogen peroxide. They wanted $5 for a bottle. The CVS sold it for $1.50. So I bought from CVS.
I'm not sadden by this at all. I wouldn't be surprised if they were getting caught up in an insurance scam investigation and had to run... I never trusted them...
It is very sad and abrupt :(. I am avoiding CVS and transferring my prescriptions to
Boerum Hill Chemist a family owned pharmacy on Atlantic Avenue
(378 Atlantic btw Bond and Hoyt)
The staff was super nice and friendly and they offer free delivery.
We loved them. There was no mention to us last
week, and we’ve gone yhere since they opened the firt location. CVS- HELP!! Not yhe same.
Lin Campbell
Great people! So sorry they are leaving!
The landlord raised the rent inordinately and Sam, the owner, was forced to close. Apparently Sam may be choosing retirement but the wonderful manager and pharmacist, John Caporto, hopes to remain in the neighborhood and is looking for another position in a pharmacy. He was the kindest and best pharmacist and is widely loved. The pharmacy was the most personal and caring place and we will miss it terribly.
I am so saddened by this sudden change and hope John and Sam are ok.
Your readers searching for another independent pharmacy might do well to look into Park Chemists on 5th Ave and Degraw. With their convenient free delivery service and super helpful staff I couldn’t be happier (well, it would be nice to have them on this side of the canal). After transferring my prescriptions, Gary, the pharmacist/ owner, called to introduce himself and to let him know if ever he could be of assistance). He is also opening a second pharmacy on 4th Ave and 11th or 12th Street. It’s interesting to note his preference was to open on Court or Smith, but, alas, the landlords of all our vacant shops wanted too much money.
Sam, John and all the pharmacy staff are the best and thoughtful people I've ever met since I moved to Brooklyn many years ago. The pharmacy closed, and I wish them the best possible and success, hoping to meet again soon
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