Darling's Pharmacy on East Avenue in the Erie Center for Arts and Technology is no longer in business.
This comes has many chain pharmacies like Walgreen's announced store closures across the United States. Other local pharmacies have closed in recent years like Albion Pharmacy and Your Hometown Pharmacy in Wesleyville.
The goal of the Darling's Pharmacy location on East Avenue was to be a resources to the community, since there was no neighborhood pharmacy.
Chris Darling has been a pharmacist for almost 30 years and has owned pharmacies for nearly twenty. He's gone from owning nine to now two, it's a trend that's happening across the country. There are still two locations open in Shinglehouse and Sugar Grove.
As Darling explained, "There's 9.3 pharmacies closing per day, that doesn't include just independents. Walgreen's just had a big announcement about closures. Rite Aids have closed in Ohio and Michigan, I believe. It shows the landscape that it's not about being competitive in the pricing, it's truly, we need some legislative change to happen."
Darling said local pharmacies offer a personal connection to customers that not all chain stores can provide. "I recognize when Mrs. Jones comes in and I may actually know her medication in my brain without having to look at my computer. I'm so connected to her. I knew her mother, her father, I'm connected with her kids, they played on the same teams. The independent is really a piece of that community", said Darling.
Although vital in all communities, pharmacies in rural communities hold extra importance. According to Darling, "Communities without schools, without physicians, without pharmacies, those communities suffer and as we look across Pennsylvania and especially, Northwest Pennsylvania, that's what we currently are, we are a dotting or rural communities that have limited access to the services."
Darling said even staying busy can't keep the doors of local pharmacies open. "It's frustrating because pharmacies aren't closing because of lack of business. We are as busy we can be. It doesn't make sense a model that you can fill hundreds of prescriptions a day, but have to fill them at a loss. It's really, the model is broken", said Darling.
He's worried what the future holds for local pharmacies like his that have been around for decades. "Some will survive. Some will disappear, but we are passed the tipping point at this point. Pharmacies that have been around for 50, 75, 100 years are closing their doors, not because they want, but because there is no choice", said Darling.
Darling said more legislation is needed from the state and federal help to help local pharmacies survive. He said there has been some bills in the state, but more work needs to be done.