Ribbon cut on pharmacy

NAUGATUCK — Local officials celebrated the grand opening of Naugatuck Pharmacy last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The pharmacy, which is located at 153 Maple St., is owned by pharmacist Sanjay Patel. The space used to be the home of Nelson’s Pharmacy, which opened in 1990 but closed about a year ago. Patel said he decided to open up in the borough because he saw a need for the pharmacy.

“I saw a good opportunity for an independent store to open up and basically grow a business that can serve the community at the same time. It was, I thought, the perfect location for an independent drug store,” said Patel, a Shelton resident.

On Sept. 9, local officials, members of the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce, and pharmacy employees gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the store.

“Small businesses are really what make our local economy strong here in Naugatuck,” Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Louis Lacman said. “It’s a local business with local business owners and local customers, and I think that’s really going to contribute. It’s a real economic growth in the area.”

Mayor Robert Mezzo said he was pleased that Patel had opened the pharmacy because it serves a need for the surrounding community. Mezzo added he had been concerned that the location was going to be hard to fill.

“I think local business drives our economy and Mr. Patel and his family are investing in a need for the community in terms of a local pharmacy that is customer driven, provides access where people can build relationships in making decisions about their health care,” Mezzo said. “He has done a wonderful job remodeling it and building a local pharmacy that I think a lot of communities would be grateful to have.”