A bold update about independent pharmacies: Expansion accelerates even as major chains retreat.
In a year marked by widespread closings, Elite Pharmacy is still growing. The Northeast Ohio-based chain opened its fifth location this week in Ravenna, taking over the former Speidels Medical Arts Pharmacy at 693 N Chestnut St. Founded by Jacob Sweet and Daniel Jones in 2022, Elite recently added a store in East Palestine in October—the town’s sole pharmacy.
“The next closest pharmacy is in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, about 9.8 miles away,” Sweet explains, underscoring the distance many residents must travel when their local options vanish.
This push comes amid a broader Ohio pharmacy crisis. Data from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy shows that 223 pharmacies closed statewide last year — nearly double the number from any other year in the last decade. In other words, roughly one in every ten Ohio pharmacies shut its doors in 2024.
Sweet notes that Elite targets communities where pharmacies have closed or never existed in the first place. Their Garrettsville location, for example, surged after nearby Rite Aid exited in 2024.
“Garrettsville tripled overnight, and we’re the only pharmacy within nine miles,” he says. “We step into places where the community has lost access or where there’s simply never been a pharmacy.”
These closures by large chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid contribute to what experts describe as “pharmacy deserts” — areas lacking local prescription pickup options. A News 5 Cleveland investigation earlier this year highlighted the growing issue and its impact on public health.
Elite Pharmacy distinguishes itself beyond basic dispensing by offering services such as free delivery and customized medications, including compounding. “If you’re only filling prescriptions in today’s market, you won’t stay afloat for long,” Sweet asserts. He points to examples like preparing medications in topical creams for patients who cannot swallow pills, such as some elderly hospice patients.
Looking ahead, Sweet hopes for state-level action to help independent pharmacies survive. “If changes aren’t made soon, the situation will worsen,” he cautions. “Health care in America is broken, even in what should be the greatest country on Earth, and it’s time to fix it.”
Reporter: Clay LePard covers Ashtabula, Geauga, and Portage counties for News 5 Cleveland. Follow him on X @ClayLePard or via Facebook at ClayLePardTV, or reach him by email at Clay.LePard@wews.com.
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