The go-to spot for Williston students is shutting down, leaving people upset and uncertain about where to go.
The local Walgreens in Easthampton plays a crucial role for every student at Williston. From school supplies to hygiene essentials, boarders at Williston can’t imagine their daily lives without it. Decreasing profits and increased online competition is one of the reasons why Walgreens will be closing 1 ,200 underperforming stores across the U.S., the one located in Easthampton being one of them.
Noura Younes, a sophomore boarder from Newport, R.I., is frustrated about the closing because it’s a place where she typically goes to restock her hygiene products. “I am not sure what I am going to do without it”, she said. “l don’t know where I am going to go to get those things, like 7-Eleven doesn’t sell them, it’s just really depressing.”
Noura believes that the campus store should offer a wider selection of high-quality products, because it would allow boarders to get what they need without having to rely on online shopping. Another solution she suggested was to start a petition to prevent the store from closing, since a lot of students depend on it.
Although disappointed, Mei Gazama a senior from Tenafly NJ, shared how the closing of Walgreens doesn’t affect her as much as other students because she is graduating in three months; however, it “sucks” for the students in the grades below hers. “It’s the only place close here that sells all the stuff that I need”, she said. “Family dollar doesn’t have much and 7-Eleven doesn’t either, like they just have the basics. I guess I am just going to start ordering everything on Amazon, but honestly, it’s fine because I will only be two months without it.”
Assistant Dean of Students for Community Life, Caroline Channell, doesn’t have strong feelings about the Walgreens closure since she uses CVS; however, she empathizes with the boarders who are more affected by it.
“It is a bummer because I know that the students use it so much and it’s a lot easier and safer to walk to than the CVS,” she said. Channell revealed her excitement about this article since it gives her the opportunity to share the different solutions she has for Williston students.
“l think reminding students to utilize the command-a-vans is important,” she said. “We will also be labeling specific trips on Sundays for boarding students to CVS. Another thing that I think is really important is to remind students that stores like Big E’s, which is within walking distance, and other convenience stores, like 7-Eleven and The Pride have a lot of products as well, although I will add, that if you use a specific shampoo Or if you need a prescription then you will need to go to CVS.
She also encourages students to take more advantage of the mall shuttles the school offers on weekends. “Keep in mind that we do have targets in the malls,” she said. “In the Holyoke mall there is a target and that can be a really good place to stock up on any specific toiletries that you may need.”
In an interview held by “5 Chicago” the Walgreens company shared in a statement that increased regulatory and reimbursement pressure are some of the main reasons why many stores are closing nationwide. “Those factors are weighing on our ability to cover the costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs,” the company said. “It is never an easy decision to close a store. We know that our stores are important to the communities that we serve and therefore do everything possible to improve the store performance.”
