Shore Drugs Reopens But Pharmacy Remains Shut

After nearly a month since the , on Belmont Street has reopened, but it's pharmacy department remains shut down, its license to dispense drugs and fill prescriptions pulled and not likely to open "in the near future" according to the state.

"Yes, the front of the store is opened and we would like to see everyone come back, but as of now, our pharmacy remains closed," said owner Dana Shore.

When asked when he expected to receive a license to resume operations as a drug store, Shore said he could not comment on any issue regarding the prohibition now placed on his operation. 

"It's nothing I did," Shore would say.

The response from the state department which led the investigation kept its comments just as close to its vest as Shore.

"The entity/premises at 297 Belmont Street, Belmont ... is no longer licensed to operate as a pharmacy/drug store," said Julia Hurley, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in an email to Belmont Patch.

"The Pharmacy Board has observed that there are no drugs on the premises and has no indication at this time that the premises/business will be licensed to operate as a pharmacy in the near future," read Hurley's email.

"The premises may be open, but as something other than a pharmacy or drug store." 

When reached by phone, Hurley said the statement was all the state would have to say at this time.

The drug store's closure occurred after the state Board of Registration in Pharmacyinvestigators in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (US DEA) conducted an on-site investigation raid at the drug store on May 4.

Based on the results of the inspection, the pharmacy board "determined that there is imminent danger to the public health or safety that warrants the immediate summary suspension of the pharmacy’s license," said Hurley at the time.

For Shore,, the closure remains a frustrating issue since "there is a larger story to this, but I really have no comment at this time."