ORANGE — The town has a new pharmacy after two months without one.

Health Center Pharmacy opened at 119 New Athol Road on March 17, replacing the Walgreens that closed across the street near the end of January.

“We’re kind of hoping to fill that void,” said Jessica Strom, chief operating officer of Community Health Center of Franklin County, which owns the plaza that houses the pharmacy. “I think it’s been a tough time for pharmacies. There’s been a lot of closures across the state, for Walgreens, for CVSes. They’re just not making the profit they used to make.

“That’s what’s different about us. We are a pharmacy of a federal qualified health center, so we are nonprofit,” she continued. “We are not in it for the profit. We’re in it for increasing access for our patients and making sure that medications stay affordable.”

The 2,400-square-foot space, the former site of Leonard Optician, will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pharmacy has five staff members, including Mikayla Piazzi, the pharmacist in charge, and Staff Pharmacist Kelvin Amagyei.

“[Foot traffic] is starting to trickle through. I think the community’s pretty happy to have a pharmacy back in town,” said Piazzi, who most recently worked at FMC Devens, a federal prison for male inmates requiring specialized or long-term medical or mental health care. The new pharmacy has already seen numerous former Walgreens customers.

“We hired half their staff,” Shannan Beaton, the health center’s director of operations, said with a laugh.

The pharmacy is open to all residents of Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, providing prescription medications, over-the-counter products and a range of health-related services, including vaccinations.

“It’s very convenient for our Orange-based patients, and we’re working on delivery systems for other patients in our catchment area, which is all of Franklin County, who may [have] special circumstances, may be homebound, may have transportation barriers,” Strom said.

She said the Community Health Center of Franklin County bought the property, formerly the Aubuchon Plaza, in 2020 and moved in the following year, establishing medical and dental services. She said 82% of the plaza is now renovated.

“The only place in this plaza that hasn’t been renovated is GAAMHA, but they’ve been here for eons,” she said.

“I’m very excited to see CHCFC expanding their offerings to our community,” state Rep. Susannah Whipps, whose 2nd Franklin District includes much of the North Quabbin region, said in a statement. “This plaza has become a welcoming and inclusive provider of much-needed services locally. The new pharmacy adds another important facet of health care for our neighbors. I’m so grateful we have these services, which will help in building a healthier North Quabbin region.”

The plaza also recently added the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin, which occupies the space that used to house the Bear Arms gun shop. Bear Arms moved to downtown Athol.

The pharmacy can be reached at 978-673-8933 and more information about the Community Health Center of Franklin County is available at chcfc.org.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com.