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| Updated: 9/11/2012 12:00 pm |
Published: 9/10/2012 4:48 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Walgreens will close 27 USA Drug stores in Arkansas, including 14 in the Little Rock area in the next 60 days. The announcement coming after Walgreens acquired the Pine Bluff based drugstore chain this summer.
It's the end of USA Drug in many Arkansas communities including North Little Rock, Hot Springs, Russellville, Sherwood and Benton.
Customers at the store on Military Road in Benton say they just learned of the closure and are disappointed.
"Don't like it, don't like it,” Art Slaver says. “If a store like this has to close down what else is going on with the economy?
Illinois based Walgreens announced they planned to acquire all 144 USA Drug stores in July. Now FOX16 News has confirmed more than half, 76 stores in six states are closing.
In a statement spokesperson Jim Graham says the acquisition is not complete but Walgreens is staking steps in anticipation of the deal closing this month.
"After careful planning and market analysis, on Monday we began to notify employees of our intent to close 14 stores in the Little Rock region, in addition to some stores in other states," the statement reads. “Our decisions about stores closures are based on a number of considerations, including size of the market and proximity to other Walgreens and USA Drug stores and affiliates.”
The closure lists include eight USA Drug Express stores and 6 USA Drug locations.
"It's not a good thing. I know with USA Drug, thing I liked about them, they were very reasonably priced for the medications we got," customer Tanya Muhleisen says.
Some stores are closing quicker than others. All locations in Hot Springs will close September 25, and the Benton location will shut their doors September 23.
Three stores in the Little Rock area at 1601 S. Main, 8815 Stagecoach Rd and 500 S. University as well as a location at 3525 Hwy 5 in Bryant will stay open.
Four of the locations closing operate under the Super D Drugs and Super D Drugs Express brand.
Below is a complete list of Arkansas closures and a statement from Walgreens.
USA Drug Express 1024 Military Road, Benton
USA Drug Express 1101 N. Walton Bentonville
USA Drug Express 1572 N. College Ave. Fayetteville
USA Drug Express 2111 W. MLK Blvd. Fayetteville
Super D Drugs 1111 North Washington Forrest City
USA Drug Express 202 W. Bower Harrison
USA Drug Express 100 Airport Rd. Hot Springs
USA Drug Express 531 W. Grand Hot Springs
Super D Drugs Express 1340 Higdon Ferry Road Hot Springs
USA Drug Express 5462 Central Ave. Hot Springs
Super D Drugs Express 533 W. Nettleton Jonesboro
USA Drug 105 N. Rodney Parham Rd. #3 Little Rock
USA Drug 16924 Cantrell Rd. Little Rock
USA Drug 6115 Baseline Road Little Rock
USA Drug 11108 N. Rodney Parham Road Little Rock
USA Drug Express 215 N. Bowman Rd Little Rock
USA Drug 2743 Lakewood Village Drive N. Little Rock
USA Drug Express 5209 JFK Blvd N. Little Rock
Super D Drugs Express 1733 W. Kingshighway Paragould
USA Drug 1428 W.Walnut Rogers
USA Drug 1112 W. Main Russellville
USA Drug Express1300 E. Kiehl Sherwood
USA Drug 100 Hwy. 412 West Siloam Springs
USA Drug 2300 W Sunset Ave, Springdale
USA Drug, 437 E PAGE AVE Malvern
USA Drug Express, 1920 MALCOLM AVE Newport
Rx Express Pharmacy 2720 E RACE AVE Searcy
Although we have not finalized the acquisition of USA Drug, we are taking steps in anticipation of the completion of the transaction, which is expected to occur in mid-September. After careful planning and market analysis, on Monday we began to notify employees of our intent to close 14 stores in the Little Rock region, in addition to some stores in other states. Our decisions about stores closures are based on a number of considerations, including size of the market and proximity to other Walgreens and USA Drug stores and affiliates. We expect to close the stores by November.
If a store is closed, all customers will be notified of the location of a nearby Walgreens or USA Drug-affiliated store where their prescription information has been transferred. No other action is needed by pharmacy customers to have their existing prescriptions filled at any Walgreens store.
