CVS Pharmacy is set to open a new location at 32 Warren Street in Nubian Square, Roxbury, this July, marking the return of a major chain drugstore to the neighborhood following a series of Walgreens closures. A CVS spokesperson confirmed the upcoming opening but declined to provide additional details about the choice of location.

The new CVS will operate alongside Kornfield Pharmacy, an independently owned drugstore situated at the opposite end of Nubian Square. The entrance of CVS comes after Walgreens shut down multiple stores in the area in recent years. In late 2022, Walgreens closed three pharmacies in Boston neighborhoods including Roxbury, Hyde Park, and Mattapan, with one Roxbury location at 2275 Washington Street, close to the new CVS site, among them. Another Roxbury Walgreens at 416 Warren Street closed earlier this year, prompting protests from local residents concerned about reduced access to essential pharmacy services.

The withdrawal of chain pharmacies has posed significant challenges for residents, many of whom have faced travel times exceeding 20 minutes on foot to reach the nearest pharmacy. In response to this growing access issue, the Boston City Council is currently reviewing a proposal to establish a pharmacy stabilization and access fund aimed at supporting residents’ ability to obtain medications and vaccinations within their communities. The measure remains under committee review.

City Councilor Miniard Culpepper, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, highlighted the critical role neighborhood pharmacies play in vulnerable populations’ daily lives. “For many of our residents, especially seniors, working families, and those without reliable transportation, that loss is devastating,” Culpepper said during a recent council meeting.

At-large City Councilor Julia Mejia noted that Boston has lost 41 pharmacies since 2019, predominantly large commercial chains. She emphasized that the proposed fund would be targeted specifically at independent or nonprofit pharmacies. Both councilors underscored that pharmacies serve not only as places for prescription fulfillment but also as vital access points for medications, vaccinations, and healthcare guidance, making their presence integral to community health.