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A CVS pharmacy sitting directly beneath Venice Beach’s towering, gender-bending “Ballerina Clown” statue, is officially closing its doors this summer.
The retail giant confirmed that the store, located at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Main Street, will shutter on July 1, Mirror Media Group confirmed.
A store manager reportedly insists that the closure “has nothing to do with the statue.” Naturally, Venice residents had plenty to say online.
“Have you been in there? It is probably the saddest run down store possible,” one Venice resident commented on Instagram, echoing a sentiment shared by many who braved the aisles. Others pointed to the harsh reality of operating a business in the heart of Venice’s ongoing struggle with street crime and vacancy.
“Maintaining access to pharmacy services in the communities we serve is an important factor we consider when making store closure decisions,” a CVS spokesperson told The California Post.
“Other factors include local market dynamics, population shifts, a community’s store density, and ensuring there are other geographic access points to meet the needs of the community.”
While the massive Ballerina Clown statue above the entrance remains a masterpiece of public art, the retail experience below it had reportedly devolved into a gritty nightmare. Residents in local community groups didn’t hold back in opining on why the “Clownerina” pharmacy had finally tapped out.
“No one goes here because of all the crime and homeless people who try to stab you and scream at you,” one blunt critic wrote. Another added that staff deserved a medal for just showing up: “Those poor employees risked their lives for us all daily.”
Between the overhead and street-level chaos, many wondered how the shop survived this long.
“Guessing high rent, dealing with lots of transients & mentally ill, difficult parking and limited size / inventory make it not worth it,” noted one resident. “I have always wondered how long they would last.”
The 30-foot-tall behemoth above the shop, created by artist Jonathan Borofsky, has been up there since 1989.
Employees working at the Venice location will be offered similar roles within the company, according to CVS.
