The Local Source for News and Information Since 1980
RIDGELY - The Ridgely Pharmacy & Gifts closing announcement on Facebook seemed sudden. But as owner Brenda Walls said, “it really is just about Sue (Cherry, pharmacist) and I retiring.” The Ridgely business will close effective Oct. 30, 2025.
Walls said that the dual retirements have been discussed for several months, and it was a thoughtful and intentional decision. The pharmacy has been in Ridgely for 22 years, and both Walls as owner and Cherry as pharmacist have seen changes to the business of providing medical support to the community. But the culture in Ridgely Pharmacy & Gifts hasn’t changed one bit, and that is to treat customers like family.
To that end, they are working to help their customers move on to other pharmacies, for example Greensboro Pharmacy, Edward’s Pharmacy, or Hills Pharmacy. It is important to Walls that her customers, “her friends,” be able to utilize the services of an independent pharmacy if they so choose.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to take care of our customers, people who we now call friends,” Walls said with a catch in her voice.
The retail operations for medicines and supplies, and medical support and comfort are tough for any size operation, not just in Caroline County, but nationwide. Challenges that pharmacies face are the same that can be felt by most businesses: pinch points in labor availability, additional supplier costs, and changing face of competition from brick-and-mortar to online. Pharmacies also have to navigate insurance payments and availability of approved generic versus name-brand medicine.
These are the challenges that Walls and Cherry have happily faced in order to serve their community. And now, it is time to retire and move on to the next chapter. “It’s been a perfect way to round out my career and be a hometown pharmacist. It’s been my dream,” Cherry explained.
Walls is looking forward to spending time with her “grandbabies,” and giving even more to the community. Cherry said, "I'm having shoulder surgery first so I can get back to riding horses and swimming in the ocean, two things that I've always enjoyed doing. I want to swim in the ocean."
As the Whitney Houston song, The Greatest Love of All played as background music, Walls said, “I love my community. I love my customers. This was a very hard decision.”
Ridgely Pharmacy & Gifts will be open until October 30. All gift merchandise is on sale as Walls clears out inventory.
(Editor’s note: look for an additional write-up on the remarkable team of Walls and Cherry in the November issue of the Caroline Review magazine.)
