Giant Eagle is pulling the plug on its Lancaster supermarket this summer, and the store's pharmacy is set to close first, on June 17. Company officials say the store will keep normal operations and regular hours right up until its final day, while it works with the roughly 62 team members at the location on relocation and new hiring options.
The closure was announced in a company release that spelled out the pharmacy deadline and staffing plans, as reported by 10TV. "The store closing was a difficult but necessary business decision made after careful review of store operations," spokesperson Dan Donovan said in the statement. The release also notes that impacted pharmacy customers are being notified directly about where and how their prescriptions will move.
According to the company, prescriptions from the Lancaster Giant Eagle pharmacy will be transferred to the Kroger on North Memorial Drive. Kroger's Lancaster store at 1621 N. Memorial Dr. - listed on Kroger - includes an in-store pharmacy and drive-thru services. Customers with questions about refills or transfer timing are being directed to contact the pharmacy named in their notification for specifics, and Giant Eagle says it will help guide customers through that transition.
What shoppers and workers can expect
Giant Eagle says it is working with impacted and interested employees on job opportunities at other nearby Giant Eagle locations. The Lancaster store currently employs about 62 team members, per 10TV. Until a final closing date is announced, shoppers can expect business as usual, with the supermarket operating normally and maintaining regular hours.
Impacted employees and pharmacy customers are supposed to receive direct notices outlining next steps, including contact information and details on job or prescription options. For now, anyone with specific questions about their employment status or medications is being told to reach out to the store or the pharmacy listed in their notice.
How this fits a wider pattern
The Lancaster shutdown is not an isolated move. It follows other recent Giant Eagle changes in Central Ohio, including the closure of the chain's East Broad (Blacklick) store earlier this spring, which left neighborhood shoppers with fewer nearby grocery options, according to a report on the location leaving Blacklick shoppers in a bind. The Lancaster Giant Eagle has served the community for more than 15 years; the company opened a new Lancaster store in November 2008, according to Wikipedia.
Giant Eagle has not shared an exact final day for the Lancaster supermarket beyond saying the closure will happen "this summer." Customers with questions about prescriptions, existing refills, or employment options are advised to contact the store or the pharmacy specified in their notice for details. The company says it will continue to provide updates to affected customers and staff as the closure plans are finalized.
