LAKE CRYSTAL — On May 28, Lake Crystal will lose its only pharmacy, operated by Madelia Health, as it closes its Main Street location.
The closure comes fewer than two months after Lake Crystal Ace Hardware, just a block down the street, shut its doors.
Located in the former First National Bank of Lake Crystal, built in 1902, the pharmacy also once housed Rexall Drug. The pharmacy had been open just short of five years, according to a news release from Madelia Health.
While the pharmacy is closing — with 25 and 50 percent off some items — the clinic on Prince Street will remain open.
“While the closure of our Lake Crystal Pharmacy is difficult for everyone involved, our commitment to the health and well-being of this community remains unwavering,” stated Madelia Health CEO David Walz in the release.
They said they are working closely with patients to ensure a smooth transition for their care, and staff is being encouraged to find new positions within the organization.
According to the 2020 census, Lake Crystal has a population of 2,539. Starting earlier this spring with construction on Highway 60 southwest out of Mankato, a detour takes travelers south on Highway 169 and west on 188th Street to Lake Crystal. The city is about 12 miles from Mankato and 11 miles from Madelia.
While the community still is home to various businesses, including Kevin’s Market, GRACE Thrift Store, The Lakes, Dairy Queen, Chuck’s Cutz and Angie’s Cuts, plus the Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center and a number of churches, the loss of the pharmacy will be difficult for folks who no longer drive, like many residents of The Towers, right across Main Street from Lake Crystal Pharmacy.
In stating the reasons for the closure, Madelia Health said balancing community service with financial stability is incredibly challenging. The organization will focus on core services to continue providing patient-centered care close to home.
Madelia Health is an independent, nonprofit facility that provides health care to patients in the Madelia, Lake Crystal, Truman and St. James areas. As a 25-bed acute care hospital, it offers primary health services.
The Ace Hardware store closed April 15 after a couple of very slow years, said owner Dan Buss. That building had previously housed Jim’s Red Owl, which closed in 1982, the James Brother Hardware (1994) and Hardware Hank (2010).
One comment on the Lake Crystal History Facebook page reflected the impact of such closings on small farm communities: “Lake Crystal is going to be a ghost town. (Too) many businesses closing down and that’s sad.”