Customers Flock to New Gales Ferry CVS Pharmacy

“Grand Opening” balloons blew in the breeze Sunday morning as a large “Now Open” banner was draped over the wall facing Route 12 at the new Gales Ferry CVS Pharmacy. 

Folks in the Village of Gales Ferry are happy to have a new place to get their prescriptions and convenience items. 

Before the new CVS officially opened for business at 7 a.m., a line of people had already formed, anxiously awaiting the town’s newest business. 

While most customers drove their vehicles into the lot, others came on bicycles and some even walked using the new crosswalk from Ocean State Job Lot and Dunkin’ Donuts across the street. 

A new traffic light, at the corner of Hurlbutt Road and Route 12, has made it easy to access the store. 

As lines formed at the front end of the store later in the morning, General Manager Karrie LaMarche of Stonington said “everyone is excited” about the store’s opening.

The store has hired 15 employees, mostly full-time, for both the front-end and pharmacy departments.

LaMarche, who formerly worked at the Waterford store, says that some employees have transferred from other stores while others are new to the company.

Caitlin Almeida of Waterford and Katie Diesner of Mystic, like LaMarche, were formerly employed at the Waterford store.

Unlike Waterford, the Gales Ferry CVS Pharmacy opens in a community that has no grocery store or pharmacy. 

“It’s nice because I don’t have to go to the (Sub) Base or wait in line at Wal-Mart,” said Curtiss Stapleton of Gales Ferry, who was there with his wife, Lisa, adding that “you can really get a lot of stuff here,” as she carried a small container of milk. 

Jim and Mary Courtad of Gales Ferry, just a few aisles away looking at the magazines, echoed those sentiments.

“It’s very convenient,” Jim said, adding that “we really needed a drug store here in Ledyard.”

“I’m thrilled to have a CVS Pharmacy in my neighborhood. I used to have to go to Stop and Shop or CVS in Groton,” said Kathy Kane, also of Gales Ferry.

Charlotte Davidson of Gales Ferry said, “I’m going to get my prescriptions transferred here because it’s very convenient.” 

Outside the store, Patch caught up with Rich Crocker, of Gales Ferry, who just arrived at the store and commented how convenient the new store would be for him as well. 

After parking her vehicle, one soon-to-be customer was helping her mom get in her wheelchair. She said her mom regarded the store as “her store,” and while they chose not to be identified, they both expressed their appreciation of the chain’s newest Connecticut location. 

The new CVS, located at 1657 Route 12 in Gales Ferry, is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its pharmacy is open Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, it is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.