Six Months Without a Script: Stamford’s Ongoing Struggle in a Pharmacy Desert

On March 19, an alarm company reported losing contact with its system at the former Walgreens on Lake Street in Stamford. Police suspected possible vandalism or damage to electrical boxes. Photo in PD.

STAMFORD — It has been six months since The Walgreens pharmacy in Stamford, NY, located on Lake Street, officially closed on September 3, 2025. The closure has left a significant gap in local healthcare access, as it was the only retail pharmacy within the village limits.

The closure was part of a broader plan by Walgreens to shutter approximately 1,200 underperforming or unprofitable stores across the United States. Walgreen’s parent company, Boots Alliance, was acquired by a private equity firm, leading to an aggressive turnaround strategy to combat a $3 billion annual loss and eroding pharmacy margins.

At the time of Walgreen’s closing, Stamford Mayor Robert Schneider noted that the loss was devastating for those with limited transportation,

Impact on the Community

The closure has been described by many in Stamford and the surrounding communities as a "big loss" for the village, particularly affecting seniors, and low-income residents. Those without reliable vehicles now face a minimum 14-to-24-mile trip to reach the nearest pharmacies in Delhi, Margaretville, or Oneonta. While some retailers like Walmart offer prescription delivery, they are often restricted from delivering Medicaid, Medicare Part B, or controlled substances, leaving many vulnerable residents without a clear solution for their medications.

Short-Term and Immediate Solutions

Since there is currently no active pharmacy in Stamford, residents are largely traveling to Delhi, NY (approx. 21 miles): O'Connor Outpatient Pharmacy and Walgreens in Delhi, NY, approximately 21 miles; CVS Pharmacy and Margaretville Memorial Hospital in Margaretville, NY (approx. 30 miles): and multiple options including Walgreens, Walmart, Hannaford, and Price Chopper in Oneonta, NY (approx. 30 miles) via the highway and not counting back roads.

Local officials have continued to explore a mix of immediate relief measures and long-term structural alternatives to address the "pharmacy desert" created by the Walgreens closure. 

To lessen the immediate impact on residents, particularly those with limited mobility, village officials were early in identifying Home Delivery Options and Family and Community Support as stop-gap strategies. Village Trustee Jim Kopp noted that Walmart can deliver prescriptions for Medicare Part D, private insurance, or cash-pay customers. However, this is limited, as it does not cover Medicaid, Medicare Part B, refrigerated drugs, or controlled substances. Officials have encouraged older residents to seek assistance from relatives or neighbors to help set up online ordering processes and manage digital prescription transfers.

Long-Term Alternatives and Strategies

Local leaders and industry experts are looking toward more sustainable models to ensure healthcare access. One of these is recruiting a new pharmacy. Stamford Mayor Robert Schneider has expressed hope that another pharmacy will occupy the space or move into the village and is actively seeking alternatives.

There is growing interest in the Pharmacy for the Public Good model pioneered by Wellness Rx in nearby Phoenicia. This model operates as a nonprofit to compensate for low insurance reimbursement rates and focuses on blending traditional pharmacy services with natural medicine. 

Local and state officials have discussed the need for legislative PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) reform. Legislation has been proposed in the New York State Senate to improve reimbursement rates, which would make it more financially viable for independent pharmacies to open in rural areas like Stamford.

At the state level, emergency actions took effect January 2025 requiring pharmacies to transfer a patient's entire prescription (including all authorized refills) to a new pharmacy in a single request. This was designed to reduce the administrative burden on residents when a local store closes permanently.

Ongoing Recruitment and the Regional Hub Strategy

Despite the initial hope that another national chain would step in to replace Walgreens, Mayor Robert Schneider recently confirmed that those specific expectations have not materialized. However, the search for a solution has pivoted toward regional healthcare providers. Schneider has been in direct contact with Henry Weil at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown to discuss the feasibility of establishing a "dispensary-type" pharmacy at their existing Stamford location on Main Street.

While the proposal is still in the early discussion stages, Schneider is emphasizing Stamford's role as a critical service point for the surrounding area.

"The need extends beyond the village of Stamford; we are more of a regional hub than just a village," Schneider noted, suggesting that the broader patient base should provide a strong incentive for a provider like Bassett.

While acknowledging he is not an expert in pharmacy economics, the Mayor remains confident that the volume of local demand would make such a venture sustainable.

"I believe prescription sales alone would adequately support the dispensary financially," Schneider stated, though he cautioned that Bassett officials are still internalizing the request and discussing it with their decision-making teams.