CVS in The Commons
CVS in the Commons was a CVS Pharmacy store located at 520 Lee Entrance Commons from January 1991 until January 2022. It was one of the original tenants of the UB Commons and allegedly the last remaining one.
Overview
CVS was the only pharmacy/drugstore on North Campus. While it did not have a working pharmacy, it did act otherwise as a typical CVS store - school supplies, bandages, drinks, frozen foods, etc. The location also acted as an on-campus job opportunity for students and an alternative to traveling to the Boulevard Mall (now defunct) and Walmart via weekend shuttles. The location remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic and was a primary source of over-the-counter medicines and hygiene products for students on campus.
Closure
In November 2021, it was suddenly reported by The Spectrum that the location would be abruptly shutting down in January 2022 as part of CVS's larger closure of 900 locations across the US. [1][2] Students were furious at the closure, saying it would be "detrimental" to campus life. Employees were only notified briefly ahead of the public at a "mandatory staffing meeting" of the impending closure [1]. The manager told employees that the store was "lucky to even make $100 in a day" during the pandemic, much to the disbelief of students who frequented the store.
Aftermath
As of May 21, 2025, the former location still remains empty, but is now for lease. The Commons is a private entity so UB does not have any jurisdiction over the decision-making process of what may return to the location. The UB Student Bookstore has attempted to cover some of the gap left by the closure of CVS by selling some basic necessities. The Elli, a convenience store in the Ellicott Food Court, also provides similar products to CVS, providing students on North campus an alternative to CVS or leaving campus.