Ownership of the Rite Aid store in Stuart may not transfer to Walgreens until the spring of 2018, but changes inside started on Wednesday.
A cheery recorded greeting states, “thank you for calling your Rite-Aid, now a Walgreens pharmacy.”
The local store was among the 1,932 Rite Aid stores bought by Walgreens in a $4.4 billion deal.
The cash deal set to close in the spring of 2018, according to online reports.
Jim Cohn, director of external communications for the Illinois based Walgreen Co. said Tuesday the company’s plan to integrate existing Rite Aid stores with Walgreens is basically happening in two phases: transfer of ownership and then, over time, converting stores to the Walgreens brand.
“Upon transfer of ownership, the location will become a Walgreens-owned Rite Aid store. As part of this transfer, it will also have a Walgreens pharmacy,” Cohn said of the local store. “For now, the front of the store will continue normal business operations under the Rite Aid brand.”
In October, Walgreens Boots Alliance announced plans to close nearly 600 of the 1,932 Rite Aid stores it is buying.
Details of the planned closures, including specific locations, have not been shared publically, Cohn said Tuesday.
A few Walgreens stores also are being closed, according to online reports.
