Phoebe Vanselow and Van Swanson sat in the waiting room of Ron’s Apothecary Shoppe Tuesday morning, waiting for their flu shots.
The next day they found out that the pharmacy was their main pharmacy for many years had announced that it would close it’s doors Wednesday following almost 50 years of operation.
“We’re very sad that it’s coming to an end,” Swanson said. “We frequented the place often.”
The two are originally from Gustavus. They relocated into Juneau about two years ago. They told me that in Gustavus their family members were ordering the prescriptions they needed from Ron’s due to its speedy service. They added that the closure of Ron’s would be “a huge loss” for the rural communities of Southeast Alaska.
“The service that Ron’s Pharmacy has offered to smaller communities who depend on items arriving via mail and air taxis is enormous and I’m not sure what other pharmacies will do to respond,” Vanselow said.
Scott Watts co-owns the shop alongside his wife. The couple has been running the shop since 2001, when they took the place from Ron Sedgwick, who was the shop’s name and the original owner. The pharmacy opened in the late 1970s close to the airport, but it moved later to the Mendenhall Mall.
The Watts decided to close their business to retire. They began searching for a buyer prior to the pandemic hit but could not find one.
Watts stated that he was happy managing Ron’s because it gave him the opportunity to provide the best care for his patients. However, he added that the most significant problem the industry is facing in the present is shrinking reimbursements from insurance for prescription medications. As the cost of prescriptions continue to increase across the nation pharmacy chains, particularly those that are independent – end up earning less money.
“The majority of prescriptions we take are covered under insurance and are taken-it-or-leave-it contract,” he said. “And the situation is getting really tight. It’s difficult to pay salary and make sure the light is on, and complete everything we’d like to accomplish.”
Tuesday morning was a steady flow of patients to the counter of the pharmacy. Watts stated that the days that lead up to the closure were full of excitement and sweet.
“The final result of retiring is great however closing the store is extremely, very complicated,” he said.
Watts explained that the store’s ten employees are heading to the pharmacy in Safeway as well as a lot of the customers of the store. Vanselow and Swanson told the media on Tuesday that they’re not certain which pharmacy they’ll take advantage of after Ron’s closes.
“I have heard that a lot of them are heading to Safeway which is probably Safeway,” Swanson said.
Watts expressed his gratitude for the love and support that the shop has received over the years. He added that he and his wife are planning to stay in Juneau and have a relaxing retirement.
“It is truly fantastic and has been wonderful for us. I cannot say enough good things about the community and its people,” he said.
