Suba Pharmacy — at 2721 Broadway on the corner of West 104th Street — will soon be closing its doors, but hopefully this is a “see you later,” not a permanent goodbye. The pharmacy, run by Bashir Suba, has been in business since 1982.
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Suba Pharmacy has seen hard times before, and was in danger of closing in 2004 after a problem with the lease. But, the community rallied with over 4,000 signatures on a petition to save it, allowing its doors to stay open. Unfortunately, it is a different story this time around.
The reason for the close seems like the same old story you hear about small businesses around New York City. The high rents, trouble with landlords, and, in Bashir’s case as a pharmacist, insurance costs.
When asked, “Do you have any favorite memories over the past 40 years on the Upper West Side?” Bashir paused, smiled, and said “A LOT! I cannot thank the community enough for the support over the past 40 years. I have a whole box of letters and they are beautiful, so all I can say is thank you.”
Bashir is looking into other locations and hopes to be back in business soon, but until then, he gives a heartfelt thank you for all of the support over the last 40 years.
Not a very hospitable business and certainly not service-oriented. I once took a prescription there to be filled and they said – we never have this drug, go someplace else! Other times, before the pandemic – they kept their front door locked and were only open by appointment? Very strange way to run a business.
re The Mike Hooper comment – this is the complete opposite of the care and consideration shown to me and my wife over the years. We’ve experienced nothing but the very best sort of attention and service.
I sincerely hope that the closure of the existing store is only a temporary setback, and that they will remain a welcome presence in the neighbourhood
Sad to see them go. They were the only compounding pharmacy I the area that could actually prepare liquid medication for babies and toddlers that needed it.
I have been a customer of Suba Pharmacy for four decades. They have been excellent.
Suba has been a constant in our lives for the forty yyears that they have been in business. They filled prescriptions, yes, but they did much more. Even before the pandemic, they would deliver them if we weren’t able to come get them, and during the pandemic, while the door was closed, they delivered everything.
I live around the corner from a Walgreens and never hesitated to walk past it to go to Suba’s. I will do so again if — and when — Mr. Suba finds a new location. There is no better pharmacist around.
I’ve lived about two blocks from Suba for four decades and have found it disappointing. The inventory is old, looks dusty, and once I was given the wrong medication. something made me Google the pills to check their appearance.
Any good recommendations for similar Pharmacy in the neighborhood?