St. George Pharmacy — Local services in New York

I REMEMBER IT WELL As reviewed by Danforth Prince

Staten Island’s “Good Neighbor” Saint George Pharmacy was always an independent, small-town oddity-- personable, amicable, and tucked away on historic Stuyvesant Place near Borough Hall.

I REMEMBER IT WELL: THE FIRE (was it arson by squatters on its back porch?) that ripped through it in 2018, forcing its then-sole proprietor, Alphonse Gentile (aka, Al), to move operations into a trailer parked outside. Evoking a military canteen in a war zone, it began a grassroots campaign that “trained” its clients about the logistics of retrieving their vital meds from a venue that evoked a scene from the Apocalypse. Think London during the Blitz. “Lemons from Lemonade,” and “Phoenixes Rising from (literal) ashes” became the joint’s monikers. Neighbors applauded the staff’s tenacity, humor, and endurance. After more than a year, affairs inside were repaired and the trailer was hauled away to the dustbins of memory. I REMEMBER IT WELL.

SINCE THEN, WHAT’S NEW AT 99 STUYVESANT PLACE? Whereas Al (let’s call him “a patriarch of the ancien régime”) is still a front-of-store guiding light, the joint is more savvy and cosmo than ever, thanks to OMAR and a team of investors who have joined the mélée. The transfer of power was graceful, poignant, and amicable. Savvy cosmopolitan internationalists have pulled the joint into the 21st Century. No bumps. No grinds, No agita…at least none that the public ever knew about. I REMEMBER IT WELL.

“Masters of Ceremony” from the old days are still in place: Among too many for me to list, they include LAFAYETTE, a star in his own right for his successful front-of-store role as “Cerberus at the Gates of Hell.” Savvy technocrats from the old days still include RON and GARY. With panache and BADDA BING, they still dispense the chems that keep many of us alive. WHAT ELSE IS NEW? Inoculations! Medical Hardware! Higher Tech! And the ability to convo in LOTS of different languages.

MY ADVICE? Check it out, the ”New” Saint George Pharmacy, the most recent manifestation of the neighborhood’s oldest pharmaceutical staple. The vibe is cool, and the staff wins kudos for ironic senses of humor. And medically, the place is prepped, primed, and ready for its close-up. HINT: It’s open weeknights till 8pm, Saturdays till 6, so if you’re navigating by car during rush hour, consider a weekday arrival after, say, 6:30 or 7pm when streetside parking is easier. The Saint George Theater and some engaging restaurants (Navi! Enoteca Maria! Ruddy & Dean! Chang Noi Thai!) are just a skip and...

I went in to fill a prescription for a medication that I’ve taken on and off for over 20 years, but have had trouble filling recently due to a shortage. My regular pharmacy was out of all dosages of that particular medication, and told me I’d have to check around to see where I could fill it. Another pharmacy had a lesser dosage and a higher dosage than I was prescribed. Kept provider updated, so that dosage could be adjusted or another pharmacy could be located.

I’d stopped in St. George Pharmacy a week or two ago, and was told that they carried that medication, but not the dosage I’d been prescribed (but they won’t specify the dosage they carried). I didn’t happen to have the pill bottles on me at the time. I came in today with two pill bottles of varying dosages to see if they had either dosage. The pharmacist took both behind the counter to then tell me that they didn’t carry that medication at all (so why take my pill bottles behind the counter?) to then ask me again where I normally fill it (which I explained, but was on the label), why I didn’t go there (I explained that again), then told me to look him in the eye and said that I needed to go back to the original pharmacy ask for a supervisor and tell them to find another location to fill the prescription! (I’d already inquired.) The pharmacist was so incredibly rude! I made to feel like a criminal or a drug fiend for trying to fill a legitimate prescription!

I’d also popped in months ago and looked around, and noticed that there was a label on the shelf for 99% isopropyl alcohol and an empty space, but no product. I asked, was told that they would order some, was told the delivery date. Came back multiple times before I was told it was on back order and that I should just order from Amazon.

Very strange and rude. I would’ve expected better from a neighborhood shop. I will not...

New owners. Not same pharmacy as when Al had it. Horrible experience. Smh. Not only one noticed either. So im switching pharmacies. They made sure to put a date 3 days after i picked up my script (controlled substance). One last move to screw me. All the good reviews def family n friends of theres. Ur good neighbor pharmacy is gone!! Funny all the bad reviews that were on here are gone now and all good ones still here. Guess they dont only mess with scripts Save urself a headache n go somewhere else Theres more. They filled one last script without my permission. I told them i wasnt using them anymore n not to fill any refills. Not only did they fill it they sent a 3 month script in a powder form which ive never received in all my years on this medication. So they screwed me once again. Ive never received powder form or a 3 month supply of anything. I get 1 month with refills. Im sure they did it cause i wasnt going back there. One last charge to my insurance. So now for 3 months i have to pay out of pocket. Im telling you save yourself an unnecessary headache....