New CVS Pharmacy Opens in Montville, Cinnecticut Despite Tough Economy

Despite a nationwide economic slowdown, CVS Pharmacy opened its newest store and pharmacy in Connecticut on Nov. 17 in the Town of Montville.

Large "Now Open" banners with red lettering were placed on the store that seemed to crop out of nowhere this past summer.

For weeks, drivers saw the "Pharmacy" portion of the red neon sign on each side of the building covered with tarps while the "red "Pharmacy" lettering on the cream pylon sign was also covered.

Since October, red caution tape blocked drivers from accessing the CVS Pharmacy parking lot which was full of cars belonging to employees who assembled fixtures and stocked shelves preparing for the store's opening.

Upon entering the CVS Pharmacy, one can see a concrete sidewalk on the sides of the building facing Chili's Restaurant and Route 32, also known as Norwich-New London Turnpike, along with Occum Lane and the Mohegan Firehouse.

Two large red canopies spelling out the store's various departments in white lettering are located directly above the sidewalks and serves as protection from the rain as well as a decorative element.

Red and white balloons greeted customers upon entering and a table with forms allowed them to sign up for the ExtraCare Savings Card.

The front of the CVS features the store's main registers along with a one-hour photo service as well as three computers allowing shoppers to scan, download, and manipulate their photos.

A tiled walkway provides access for customers to go from the main entrance door to the pharmacy which had free macadamia nut cookies.

Overhead sign fixtures above the aisles and large colored departmental signage along the walls allow shoppers to quickly find merchandise.

A store manager with a shirt and tie checked to ensure aisles were filled with merchandise while shoppers grabbed mini shopping carts to start their shopping.

Local residents took advantage of the recent grand opening celebration by using over $40 worth of coupons they received in the mail.

The store's location was formerly the location of a handful of small residential houses.

This CVS Pharmacy is the second pharmacy for Montville and the first which is located in a stand-alone building and offers drive-thru prescription window service.

It will compete with Rite-Aid Pharmacy, formerly Brooks Pharmacy, located in the Midway Shopping Center on Route 32, at the other end of town.

That shopping center is expected to struggle now that its long-time anchor, Beit Brothers Supermarket, closed leaving a large central vacant space.

Both pharmacies are located in the town's Uncasville section.

While the new CVS Pharmacy, the 131st in Connecticut, is not quite as large as other CVS stores that have recently opened, such as the ones in Old Saybrook, Waterford and Niantic, it is expected to be quite successful because of its location.

Unlike those stores, this CVS Pharmacy does not replace an existing store and pharmacy and is brand new to Montville residents.

It is located directly across the street from the Montville Commons Shopping Center which is anchored by the Super Stop and Shop Supermarket and Home Depot home improvement store.

That Super Stop and Shop is one of the few supermarket locations in the state that do not have an in-store pharmacy.

Motorists can turn into and out of CVS Pharmacy from Occum Lane, a small residential street that has a four-way traffic light allowing access to Route 32 and the northerly access driveway for Montville Commons.

The store also has access from Route 32 allowing northbound travelers to turn into the store's parking lot while those leaving the store can turn right to travel Route 32 northbound.

Signs prohibit southbound traffic from turning into the store from Route 32 south and prohibit those leaving the pharmacy from turning left onto Route 32 south.

It is less than ¼ of a mile from the exit 1 interchange of the Route 2A expressway.

That expressway is a connector highway giving travelers access to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Before this CVS Pharmacy opened, local residents were forced to travel to nearby CVS pharmacies located in Norwich, Waterford, New London, and Groton.

This CVS and its one-hour photo services are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Unlike some locations, the store and pharmacy will not be open 24 hours and those looking for a 24-hour location are advised to travel either to nearby locations in Groton, CT or Granite Street in Westerly, RI.

For more information about the Montville CVS Pharmacy contact 860-848-3202 or visit www.cvs.com.