Padden Pharmacy, a staple retail business in East Wheeling since the 1960s, shut its doors this week after owners sold the business files to CVS.

“I just had to come in and say goodbye,” an unidentified customer said after entering the small lobby through the belled door of the private business. Thursday was the last day for the owners and staff members in the building.

Padden is a “mom-and-pop” establishment at 1414 Eoff St., that’s set in front of what was once the carriage house for brewmaster A. Reymann’s mansion.

The mansion was long ago demolished, but it sat where the parking lot is now, at the corner of Eoff and 15th streets.

Inside the pharmacy Thursday, the shelves were empty. Only a few remnants of the business were left, including a chair; a pharmacy sign with the business’ signature, red brick lettering, and some wall hangings. Some clipped New Yorker cartoons still remained taped to the high counter.

One cartoon shows a patient at a doctor’s office. The medical assistant says to her: “Your appointment’s been canceled. You took too long filling out those forms.”

The former customer exchanged farewells with Jim Holeczy, who’s been a pharmacist there since 2002.

“I’ll probably retire or do part-time work,” Holeczy said of his plans.

He’ll also spend a lot of time helping one of his four daughters with child care. He said his daughter, who lives in Wheeling, recently gave birth to triplets who bring to 12 the number of grandchildren for Holeczy and Phyllis, his wife.

The pharmacy files have been sold to CVS, but the building was purchased by Pat Cassidy, a lawyer whose office is across the street at the West Virginia’s First State Capitol building that was recently solarized. Cassidy could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Closing the pharmacy has been in the works for about seven months, said Eddie DeCaria of Weirton, who is co-owner of the family business DeCaria Brothers Inc. “We want to thank everyone who supported our business over the years,” he said.

John Padden, a pharmacist, opened the original store, DiCaria said.

It was the 1960s when Padden bought the carriage house and was required to buy the mansion along with it, said Matt Padden of Wheeling.

“It’s sad, because that’s what put my sisters and I through college,” he said of his father’s business that opened in about 1966. His sisters are Beth and Amy Padden.

Recently, Padden Pharmacy notified customers via a letter announcing the store’s closing.

The condition of the health care industry created challenges for the private pharmacy. “We had the opportunity to transfer our files to CVS, so that our customers would have somewhere to go,” DeCaria said.

Customers will be serviced by the CVS at 1126 Market St. The direct number to the Market Street CVS is 304-233-4425.