POLAND, Ohio – Hometown Pharmacy will close its West Western Reserve Road location May 11 and combine it with its location at the Sparkle Market on South Meridian Road in Cornersburg.
However, the locally owned pharmacy has recognized the need for additional space and has purchased a building at 3516 S. Meridian Road, across from the Cornersburg Sparkle Market.
Garry Mrozek, CEO of Hometown Pharmacy Solutions, said the former Huntington Bank building will be converted into a 1,900-square-foot modern, clinical pharmacy.
His daughter, Stephanie Mrozek, a pharmacist and vice president of special formats, said the former bank offices will be converted into consultation rooms, allowing individuals to receive vaccinations or speak privately with a pharmacist.
“Combining our Meridian Road with our Western Reserve Road location will allow us to better serve our community and our current patients,” Stephanie Mrozek said. “We’re very excited about the opportunity of the new building and to be able to offer more clinical services to our community.”
Prescriptions and staff will be transferred to the Cornersburg store.
“During this transition, we remain fully committed to helping our patients and our community,” Mrozek’s son, pharmacist G. Matthew Mrozek, said. He added that patients can use not only the Cornersburg location but also the Struthers or Columbiana locations.
Ron McDermott, senior vice president of operations at Hometown Pharmacy, said calls and faxes to the Western Reserve Road store will be forwarded, with the same team – now joining the Cornersburg staff – handling them. He added that doctors’ communication with patients’ pharmacies will remain unchanged, and service should continue uninterrupted during the transition.
He said he also believes the new location, set to open this fall, will only raise the level of accessibility and allow next-level clinical services for patients.
The Sparkle Market on Western Reserve Road closed in March, leaving the Hometown Pharmacy located inside to operate only as a drive-thru.
“We’ve had a 25-year relationship with Sparkle, with the Furries and Vitullos. This store closed, and we’re hoping that the remaining stores stay open. They do well, but we’re kind of forced into this.” Garry Mrozek said.
Pictured at top: From left are Garry Mrozek, Stephanie Mrozek and G. Matthew Mrozek.