Thompson Pharmacy to close downtown location

Thompson Pharmacy will close its downtown location along 12th Street next Wednesday after years of service.

Owner Bill Thompson confirmed five to seven employees at the location will be asked to transfer to one of the chain's other Altoona locations, which are along Chestnut Avenue and Broad Avenue. Locations in Hollidaysburg and Centre Hall will remain open, Thompson said.

Customer accounts will also be transferred to other nearby locations, although exact details are still being worked out, he said.

Thompson said, like many pharmacies, the downtown location was struggling financially after receiving lower reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers than what it costs to fill prescriptions.

Another factor of the downtown location's closing was a lack of parking for customers, he said, noting every other Thompson Pharmacy location has its own parking lot.

"It's just a shame this has come to this," Thompson said. "I feel bad for downtown because that's the last place you want to exit."