Host Intro: Rite-Aid on Grand Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan closed its doors permanently in the Spring of 2023. Journalism student Ricardo Nenadich decides to investigate on how this closure is affecting customers and its once active staff. It should be noted that this closure makes it more difficult for patrons to collect their medications, prescriptions and other essentials. I talked with with former Rite-Aid employee Dominick Sanchez (40) and customer Zoraida Santana (71) to learn how these closures have affected them.
Ambi: The sound of a fan running in the background.
Track: I am here with Dominick Sanchez who worked for the now shuttered Rite Aid pharmacy for 10 years.
Act: Dominick: Yes, I worked in the stock room and when I learned that Rite Aid was closing I was very angry and upset because I come to have a very good relationship with the staff and the other employees and I was very hurt and devastated when they told me the news they were closing.
Track: He shares how he was laid off and the impact it took on him and his family.
Act: Dominick: It was really hard for me and my family, my wife works and my income was also helping to contribute we were both making our ends meat and taking care of our kids and now with me being laid off it’s really difficult on the family and difficult on the kids unemployment is helping a little bit but it’s not the same as a steady paycheck.
Track: Dominic says the rise in crime and the pandemic really hurt the store and pharmacy.
Act: Dominick: The crime really contributed to a lot of what went on with Rite Aid and it was really sad to see all these people coming in and stealing and just various reasons why they were stealing everybody had a different story I really felt bad for the security guards and the managers it was a really difficult time the pandemic didn’t help at all it just made things worse and it just was really bad for everybody involved it was just a really sad thing to witness and watch.
Track: Dominick also talked about the changing face of the neighborhood and how local businesses like Rite Aid are being pushed out.
Act: Dominick: I grew up on the Lower East Side and a lot of friends and family over the years have witnessed how different the neighborhood has changed and all the different developments and all new high rises coming up even the Rite Aid location where I worked is slated to become a new high rise building and its just been very difficult to witness and look at how the neighborhood has changed significantly and it’s really sad having been in this neighborhood all my life and now seeing what’s going on.
Ambi: The sound of a TV playing in the background.
Track: I am now here with Zoraida Santana, she was left to find a new pharmacy when her neighborhood Rite Aid closed its doors last spring.
Act: Zoraida: Yeah Rick, I was very unhappy to hear. The Rite Aid closed, since this store was the closest to us in the neighborhood. We depend on Rite Aid for medication as well as other essentials.
Track: Zoraida says she misses having Rite Aid pharmacy in the neighborhood. She explains that not only did she fill her prescriptions there but she also purchased other essentials.
Act: Zoraida: I really miss Rite Aid. It was my favorite store to get my prescriptions and to get all of my other essentials. I truly miss Rite Aid
While major pharmacy chains are struggling to stay open, there are many like Rite Aid that are closed in neighborhoods that desperately need them. For Baruch College I’m Ricardo Nenadich.