By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
COOKEVILLE – The Rite Aid store on S. Willow Avenue is in the middle of a liquidation sale in an effort to sell any remaining merchandise before the Cookeville store merges with Walgreens.
The purchase of 1,932 Rite Aid stores by Walgreens was completed last fall.
“As announced last October, we will be closing some store locations to help ensure we have the right stores in the right locations to create a more focused network of stores that can deliver the greatest value for our customers,” a Walgreens spokesperson told the UCBJ.
In addition to taking ownership of more than 1,900 Rite Aid stores, the $4.4 billion deal between Rite Aid and Walgreens also included the purchase of three Rite Aid distribution centers. Earlier this year, it was reported the remaining 2,500 Rite Aid stores are being sold to the Albertsons grocery store chain.
The Cookeville store will remain open for approximately two weeks to allow for the final sale of all products. The pharmacy portion of the store closed on June 21.
Patient’s prescription records will be available at the Walgreens located at 500 S. Willow Ave. in Cookeville; less than a mile away from the closing Rite Aid store.
Meanwhile, Walgreens reps said they are working to assist affected Rite Aid employees in finding employment at other locations.
“We are committed to taking care of our team members throughout this process, and expect to have positions at other locations for the majority of store employees who are impacted,” the Walgreens spokesperson added. “We will be making every effort to find the same or similar positions for team members.”
No details were immediately available regarding the status of other Rite Aid stores in the Upper Cumberland region – including those stores located in Celina, Crossville, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, and Woodbury.
