Finklin Pharmacy shuts down after 37 years
By Nate Abraham Jr.
Business
The retail pharmacy industry in the United States is facing its greatest challenges in decades. Thousands of pharmacists are quitting the industry, and small community pharmacies are closing at an alarming rate.
The same trends that are rocking the pharmacy industry nationwide is also affecting the Midlands. A few months ago, there were two Black-owned pharmacies in the Columbia area. Soon, there will be none.
Finklin Pharmacy, which has served the Eau Claire area for over 37 years, is closing its doors on Friday, February 16.
“After 37 years, it was time to venture off into new things,” said owner Michael Finklin.
Economic trends are making it harder for small, independent pharmacies to survive. Another factor in Michael’s decision to close the pharmacy is that his pharmacist, Mr. Earl Brooks, is retiring.
“It’s just that time,” Finklin said.
Michael’s father, Leon Finklin, founded the pharmacy in 1986 on North Main Street, operating as a franchisee of The Medicine Shoppe. The pharmacy offered lowpriced prescriptions with high quality service. Those services included blood glucose monitoring, blood pressure checks, and foot screenings by podiatrists. The pharmacy also sold items such as diabetic supplies, special infant formulas, nutritional supplies, adult diapers and underpads, etc.
After operating as The Medicine Shoppe for twenty years, in 2006 the pharmacy changed its name to Finklin Pharmacy. Finklin’s sons, Michael and Jeremy, took a larger role in the day-to-day operations of the business. In July 2017, the company moved to its current location at 3800 Main Street.
Finklin said that he is grate-
“After 37 years in business in the community, I appreciate it all the support from all of our loyal customers – new customers as well as old customers,” Finklin said.
Michael Finklin says he is not leaving the medical industry. He is launching a new company called Eau Claire Medical. The new company will specialize in providing durable medical equipment.
“I am just going into another branch of the medical field,” Finklin said. “I will be delivering incontinent supplies, nutritional supplements such as Boost and Ensure, and diapers. There will be nonprescription things such canes, walkers, etc. That will put me in the streets delivering instead of having a storefront.”
Finklin says that Eau Claire Medical should be fully operational in April. The new company can be reached by calling (803) 735-9849 or (803) 799-8520.
