After 44 Years, Hillsborough Pharmacy Moves to Walgreens

Blame it on insurance, mail-order pharmacies, chain competition or cost constraints.

But among the top reasons for closing 44 years of business at the Hillsborough Pharmacy was the inability to serve customers with the quality pharmacists felt they deserve.

“Stores really over the years pulled the retail pharmaceutical business into their larger outlets much like the milk was pulled from milks stores in the past to be used as a draw to increase traffic,” Tom Greco, Hillsborough Pharmacy owner, said. “It got to the point that we had to decide, "what is really the point"? We loved what we were doing, but we were having to cut cut cut, and were slowly unable to treat our customers as we had for over 44 years. The loss of profitability and our cost constraints on how we could serve the public were the top two reasons we had to decide to sell.”

After several years of letters from other pharmacy companies asking to buy the Hillsborough store, a sale to Walgreens closed June 1. All prescriptions and pharmacy records have been moved to the Hillsborough Walgreens store, located at the corner of Route 206 and Raider Boulevard.

“The decision was made in Walgreens favor because they would treat our customers and employees better,” Greco said. “I was very concerned that our purchaser would have a good reputation for customer service. We needed a purchaser that had the where with all to serve our customers in as close to our service level as possible.  I had more than a few meetings with Walgreens management before it became apparent that they should be the one. 

“People loved us, as we treated everyone like family,” he added. “That not only meant greeting people, but following their families as they grew through the years. The pills to carry you over, middle of the night prescriptions for sick kids and pay me next week, were things we were going to have to say no to. It took time but that reality left us unable to feel good about our jobs and moving the business forward.”

About six or seven members of the Hillsborough Pharmacy staff made the move to Walgreens as well.

“People were with us for years and I couldn't sell without making sure they were taken care of,” Greco said. “Walgreens tried to hire everyone who wanted a position with years of service and benefits. The management at their store was determined to help us fit in and make it work. I couldn't feel comfortable until I knew my people were going to be ok.  It has been a real emotional roller coaster for me.”

“Walgreens hired our drivers and will be offering free delivery along with their drive up window to make it easier for our clients to get their prescriptions filled, he added. “Walgreens has a large Rx department, well stocked, computer systems large enough to take on our client base, and a hard working staff. There are savings clubs, online Rx management, express pay, and Walgreens offers vaccinations. I feel awesome that our former employees have more tools to use to help our old customers.”

The biggest change Hillsborough Pharmacy customers can expect is a change in prescription numbers, and the ability to refill prescriptions at any Walgreens in the country Greco added. The pharmacy’s records, phone and fax lines have been transferred over to Walgreens, and letters have been sent to doctors, informing them of the change.

Over the next three weeks, the existing Hillsborough Pharmacy store will have a sale on its existing merchandise before closing permanently, Greco said. It opened that location in 1960, in what was then the DeCanto Shopping Center, he added.

Though opened under another owner, Jerry Salvatore and a silent partner purchased the store in 1967 and expanded it in 1972, Greco said.

“In the 60s and 70s we still had the farmer's coming in to purchase tobacco,” Greco, who joined the store in 1977, and married one of the Salvatore’s daughters, said. “Back then, we filled prescriptions for horses and farm animals. That changed in the 80s as the "good life" settled into town. The farms got converted to condos and housing tracts and most of our client based became commuters to city jobs that supported soccer, football, and little leagues. We supported them all. In the years before the last five, if you came in with a donation sheet, you got one!”

 “Jerry made sure he shared his good fortune with the people who provided it,” Greco added. “That was the unwritten rule of having a family business in town.”

And it’s being the family business that the pharmacy will miss most.

“That is probably the biggest component my father-in-law will miss,” he said. .   . He and Gladys (his wife) still go to church every day.   Something will change though in 3 weeks.

“He won't be able to stop at the store to say hello after church. We won't be there.”