First Hispanic-Focused CVS Opening In Central Islip

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A major pharmacy chain will be launching a dozen specialized stores aimed towards the Hispanic community in New York and New Jersey — including one on Long Island.

CVS Pharmacy announced the opening of the new specialized CVS Pharmacy y más stores on Monday. The pharmacies, which will be the first of this kind in the Tri-State area, have begun opening over the past month.

"Our CVS Pharmacy y más stores have been hugely beneficial to providing a more inclusive environment and value-based personalized selection for our Hispanic customers," Mayra Boitel, Vice President, Chief Merchant of Alternative Formats at CVS Health said.

The new stores will provide an "enhanced, convenient, personalized shopping experience specific to local Hispanic communities," according to the company. The stores will all incorporate bilingual staff and signs, and will also carry over 1,500 products from Hispanic brands, such as Iberia Foods, Yaucono, Fabuloso, Tio Nacho, Pilon and Café La Llave.

"Customers can access familiar brands they already know and love, speak with a bilingual staff who can clearly answer any questions about their medication regimen, and easily navigate throughout the store to find what they need quickly," Boitel said. "We understand our Hispanic customers are looking for more personalized shopping experiences and we’re eager to deliver in these markets and make them feel at home while they pick up their essentials."

On Long Island, the CVS on 2 East Suffolk Avenue in Central Islip will be transformed to be Long Island's first Hispanic-focused CVS. Other New York locations will include two in the Bronx, one in Jackson Heights and one in Ridgewood. In New Jersey the new stores will be opening in Fairview, North Plainfield, Trenton, North Bergen, Newark and two in Union City.

Starting in 2015, the chain has opened over 200 CVS Pharmacy y más locations in California, Florida, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Puerto Rico. This year, the company continues to expand the y más store format in New York and New Jersey.