St. Paul Corner Drug says farewell to its vintage soda fountain, warns of 'sobering trend' for pharmacies
St. Paul Corner Drug says farewell to its vintage soda fountain, warns of 'sobering trend' for pharmacies originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
St. Paul Corner Drug, an independent pharmacy in St. Paul, is bidding farewell to its old-fashioned soda machine.
The pharmacy at 240 Snelling Ave. S is calling Saturday's event a "retirement party" for the soda fountain that's happening because the store is reconfiguring itself "to better serve patients in today's evolving healthcare environment."
The event celebrates a kitschy relic of a different era, but St. Paul Corner Drug says it underscores a "sobering trend" for independent pharmacies in the U.S.'s tumultuous healthcare system.
"Minnesota's independent pharmacies are being squeezed by rising costs, unfair pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, and shrinking reimbursements, forcing many to make difficult decisions just to stay open," the store says in a statement.
Just last month, West Seventh Pharmacy in St. Paul announced it will close in June after 110 years in business, in what is starting to feel like a familiar story.
"Independent pharmacies across Minnesota are being forced to adapt, downsize, or close their doors altogether because of an unsustainable business environment," says John Hoeschen, pharmacist and owner of St. Paul Corner Drug.
"This soda fountain farewell is bittersweet — it represents the tough choices many of us are having to make to keep our pharmacies focused on patient care, while fighting for the ability to just stay in business."
The farewell party is taking place on Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free ice cream and a little community.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
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