Saddened to learn that the pharmacy in my local County Market store in Chatham will no longer dispense prescriptions after June 11th. (the one in town on Jason Place, not to be confused with the one in Springfield off Chatham Road at Fairhills Mall). With prescriptions transferred to Chatham’s Walgreens. Not looking forward to this as I’ve heard horror stories about Walgreens pharmacy services in recent years, except for pharmacy-only places like the one in the SIU medical buildings on Rutledge.
I will give Walgreens a chance but am considering switching to Harry’s in Auburn so I can stay local and with another HealthMart pharmacy. (As long as they will be covered under HealthLink starting July 1).
Anyone know if Niemann Foods (County Market’s parent company) is getting out of the pharmacy business? And if so, any connection between Health Alliance’s shutdown and Chatham’s County Market pharmacy section closing?
(Although Niemann shuttering a pharmacy in a County Market store in recent years is nothing new, their store in Farmington had their pharmacy close about 2-3 years ago. Ironically, the Farmington County Market’s old pharmacy delivery car has been parked at Chatham’s County Market since then).
I use the pharmacy at the County Market on Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. It’s close to home they’re extremely nice folks there. I wonder too about if they’ll stay open, though. I know a lot of folks, including myself, who won’t shop there any more because the store reeks of marijuana and just isn’t very clean.
- Leatherneck - FWIW, there is a shortage of pharmacists, at least here in central Illinois. Friend used to be one before he retired; worked for one of the chains and they ran him around 6 counties trying to cover shifts. A relative was one in Springfield and when he passed away that pharmacy cut out their 24 hour service. And recently I saw where another one has shortened their hours.
I still use the County Market on Dirksen and I’m friends with several of the techs; haven’t heard about that one cutting back or closing. They’re pretty busy since 6th Street closed. I’m going to assume the Chatham staff have been offered transfers to the Springfield locations; that’s what happened when 6th Street closed.
As a general observation, pharmacies are having a tough time surviving. The PBM’s try to hold down costs, plus I believe one of the biggest PBM’s is actually part of CVS, so you in effect have CVS dictating costs, etc. to their competitors. Between the insurance companies / PBM’s and labor shortages,it’s a tough business these days. That’s why almost all of the true mom and pop independents have disappeared.
I am the new owner of Curry’s Family Pharmacy in Riverton. We offer the best service in the region and $1 delivery Monday-Friday. I’d be happy to have you as my patients. Please feel free to transfer your prescriptions to one of the few remaining mom and pop shops
We use the County Market Pharmacy on Dirksen since the 6th street location closed. I picked up prescriptions yesterday and was told ALL Springfield County Markets pharmacies are closing as of June 11. Comment by staff was that small pharmacies are having a hard time competing with the bigger pharmacies/insurance reimbursement rates.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, May 28, 25 @ 8:32 am:
Saddened to learn that the pharmacy in my local County Market store in Chatham will no longer dispense prescriptions after June 11th. (the one in town on Jason Place, not to be confused with the one in Springfield off Chatham Road at Fairhills Mall). With prescriptions transferred to Chatham’s Walgreens. Not looking forward to this as I’ve heard horror stories about Walgreens pharmacy services in recent years, except for pharmacy-only places like the one in the SIU medical buildings on Rutledge.
I will give Walgreens a chance but am considering switching to Harry’s in Auburn so I can stay local and with another HealthMart pharmacy. (As long as they will be covered under HealthLink starting July 1).
Anyone know if Niemann Foods (County Market’s parent company) is getting out of the pharmacy business? And if so, any connection between Health Alliance’s shutdown and Chatham’s County Market pharmacy section closing?
(Although Niemann shuttering a pharmacy in a County Market store in recent years is nothing new, their store in Farmington had their pharmacy close about 2-3 years ago. Ironically, the Farmington County Market’s old pharmacy delivery car has been parked at Chatham’s County Market since then).
- Capcitynewt - Wednesday, May 28, 25 @ 9:10 am:
I use the pharmacy at the County Market on Dirksen Parkway in Springfield. It’s close to home they’re extremely nice folks there. I wonder too about if they’ll stay open, though. I know a lot of folks, including myself, who won’t shop there any more because the store reeks of marijuana and just isn’t very clean.
- RNUG - Wednesday, May 28, 25 @ 9:17 am:
- Leatherneck - FWIW, there is a shortage of pharmacists, at least here in central Illinois. Friend used to be one before he retired; worked for one of the chains and they ran him around 6 counties trying to cover shifts. A relative was one in Springfield and when he passed away that pharmacy cut out their 24 hour service. And recently I saw where another one has shortened their hours.
I still use the County Market on Dirksen and I’m friends with several of the techs; haven’t heard about that one cutting back or closing. They’re pretty busy since 6th Street closed. I’m going to assume the Chatham staff have been offered transfers to the Springfield locations; that’s what happened when 6th Street closed.
As a general observation, pharmacies are having a tough time surviving. The PBM’s try to hold down costs, plus I believe one of the biggest PBM’s is actually part of CVS, so you in effect have CVS dictating costs, etc. to their competitors. Between the insurance companies / PBM’s and labor shortages,it’s a tough business these days. That’s why almost all of the true mom and pop independents have disappeared.
- Jake rph - Wednesday, May 28, 25 @ 10:32 pm:
I am the new owner of Curry’s Family Pharmacy in Riverton. We offer the best service in the region and $1 delivery Monday-Friday. I’d be happy to have you as my patients. Please feel free to transfer your prescriptions to one of the few remaining mom and pop shops
- CAV - Thursday, May 29, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
We use the County Market Pharmacy on Dirksen since the 6th street location closed. I picked up prescriptions yesterday and was told ALL Springfield County Markets pharmacies are closing as of June 11. Comment by staff was that small pharmacies are having a hard time competing with the bigger pharmacies/insurance reimbursement rates.