The abrupt closure of the K-Mart Pharmacy at Tutu Park Mall has raised questions about timely notice to patients about the sudden change. The pharmacy — in operation on St. Thomas since the store first opened in 1995 — closed on Sept. 16.
Those questions became more pronounced with the end-of-the-month arrival of letters from K-Mart’s corporate headquarters in Illinois saying, “As you may be aware, our pharmacy will be closing on Tuesday, September 16th.”
Both the letter and a sign posted to the glass partition where customers used to pick up medications directed them to visit the Walgreens Pharmacy across the road in Anna’s Retreat.
Even the administrators at a medical center inside the mall said they were caught off guard by word of the closure. But Diane Morales, executive assistant to the medical director at St. Thomas East End Medical Center, said staffers there had no advanced notice of the closure.
Questions sent to media services at Transform KM, LLC, asking how many customers were affected by the closure went unanswered. A spokesperson at Walgreens’ corporate headquarters did respond to a press inquiry, but said they could not disclose how many K-Mart Pharmacy patient records were sent over.
“I would encourage you to reach out to K-Mart’s communications team as we do not have those details,” said Senior Specialist Jennifer Coto.
But Coto said the company acknowledged the receipt of pharmacy records. “We welcome patients from any pharmacy and are proud to offer a wide array of healthcare and pharmacy services,” she said.
Newly transferred customers to Walgreens may experience changes at the cash register. National and regional discounts offered by K-Mart Pharmacy no longer apply, but information found online suggests there are discount options available at Walgreens.
Morales said East End Clinic patients are among those who stand to benefit. “The reason why that benefits us as a facility is that we are part of the 340B Pharmacy Program; we are actually the only entity on St. Thomas that has the 340B Pharmacy Pro Discount Program,” Morales said. “I’m able to give them a card that identifies them as our patient and allows them to get the 340 pricing.”
Two other St. Thomas pharmacies — Tradewinds Pharmacy in Red Hook and the Medicine Shoppe at Havensight Mall — also partner with East End Clinic through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, the administrator said.

Medicine Shoppe pharmacist Kelly Edens said her shop is eager to welcome former K-Mart customers. “We try to encourage many people in the community to come here and let them know this pharmacy is able to provide extras that the other pharmacies can’t,” Edens said. “We have a robot that fills medications, we have special equipment to keep an eye on everyone’s meds to make sure they don’t have interactions.”
Medicine Shoppe is one of four small, independent shops that fill prescriptions on St. Thomas aside from the larger stores that are part of national retail chains. But some of the other smaller shops have reportedly expressed interest in welcoming K-Mart pharmacy customers as well.

The Village VI Partners in Recovery team, one of the Virgin Islands’ only residential treatment facilities for individuals battling addiction, opened its doors last Friday for an open house. The event not only raised awareness about addiction recovery services but also celebrated stories of hope and transformation.
According to Brandy Brooks, prevention coordinator at The Village, the open house is a vital opportunity to connect with the wider community. “The Village is one of the only residential treatment facilities for people who are dealing with addiction in the territory,” Brooks said. “We’ve been around the longest, and as a nonprofit, we pull in residents from all over who need care. It’s important for people to know that we’re still here and continuing to serve.”
The Village’s Sion Hill location houses approximately 20 residents at any given time, providing around-the-clock care and support. In addition to its residential program, the organization has expanded its prevention and outpatient treatment services, particularly for youth ages 12 to 25. “Our prevention program is newer,” Brooks explained. “We go to schools and teach students about behavioral health so they can make better decisions and hopefully avoid addiction in the future.”
The open house, held in partnership with Senator-at-Large Angel Bolques Jr., brought together community members, government officials, and former clients. Brooks expressed gratitude for the senator’s support. “Senator Bolques came to our first open house two years ago and encouraged us to continue. This year, he helped with sponsorships and made sure we had what we needed to host this event,” she said.
Bolques also praised the courage of those in recovery. “I am proud of you. It takes a huge amount of courage, determination, and perseverance to decide that you are ready to change your life,” he said.
Senator Clifford Joseph was present, and acknowledgments were also given to Senator Novelle Francis Jr., both recognized for their continued advocacy of recovery services.

Among the guest speakers were Government of the Virgin Islands Administrator Sammuel Sanes, Police Chief Uston A. Cornelius, and Damian Lang, a representative from the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, who shared a personal story about his brother’s journey through The Village. “He spoke about how addiction impacted his family and the power of recovery,” Brooks recalled.
Another moving testimony came from Jamila Russell, who spoke about being the daughter of someone who successfully completed treatment at The Village. “Her mother has been sober for 17 years,” Brooks said. “She shared how her mother was able to become the parent she never had—it was a very emotional and powerful moment.”
Former client Maxwell Peters, who recently completed his treatment, also addressed the audience. He is now employed at The Village as a houseman, providing mentorship and maintaining structure for current residents. “It’s inspiring to see someone who has come full circle,” Brooks said. “He knows exactly what our residents are going through.”
Brooks emphasized that while the event celebrated recovery, it also highlighted the ongoing challenges nonprofits face, particularly around funding. “Most nonprofits in the territory are severely underfunded,” she noted. “We’re providing services that often fill the gap where government programs don’t exist. Despite limited funding, we continue to serve those most in need,” she said.
Through the open house, The Village received donations of food, hygiene products, and household items, and even secured a new dryer to replace one that had broken. “Businesses and community members really came through for us,” Brooks said. “Someone even volunteered to host art classes with our residents, which is the kind of community involvement we love to see.”
Looking ahead, The Village hopes to expand its programs and restore services for mothers with children, a program previously offered but paused due to a lack of funding. “Many women don’t seek treatment because they worry about what will happen to their kids,” Brooks explained. “We’re working to change that.”
Brooks said the open house was a reminder that everyone can play a role in supporting recovery. “Not everyone can work in this field, but there are always ways to give back,” she said. “Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or just spreading awareness, every bit helps someone on their journey to recovery.”
The Village VI Partners in Recovery provides residential substance use treatment and prevention programs designed to meet the unique needs of adults and children. Services include safe residential care, one-on-one and group counseling, aftercare support, relapse prevention strategies, substance use prevention and education, job readiness and educational counseling, family and parenting support, youth life skills programs, and youth outpatient treatment.
For more information, contact Treatment Director Carita Stevens-Gumbs at 340-244-1396 or email carita.stevens@westcare.com.