Endicott Corner Drug Store Closing After 87 Years Amid Industry Challenges

The Corner Drug Store & Gift Shop in Endicott, a community fixture for 87 years, will permanently close on June 26, 2025, due to ongoing challenges faced by independent pharmacies in an evolving industry and economic environment. Owner Patrick Magee, who has deep family ties to the store, cited declining prescription reimbursements, rising costs, and changing consumer habits as factors making it impossible to continue operations. Despite the closure, the store will maintain regular hours and pharmacy services until the final day, after which prescriptions will be transferred to a nearby CVS location. This local closure reflects a broader trend of pharmacy shutdowns across the U.S., including those of major chains like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. In response to such closures and the resulting access concerns, there is growing interest in point-of-care medication dispensing, where physicians directly provide certain medications during office visits, potentially improving convenience and addressing pharmacy access gaps. This approach revives an older practice to help mitigate difficulties caused by the shrinking retail pharmacy network.