Wellsville's Rite Aid-Walgreens

It's hard to say where Walgreens' plans are stands in the taking over select Rite Aid stores. While many have closed in other parts of the country where Walgreens had more market presence, this region has generally seen little to no closures that I know of the top of my head. This makes for a very confusing shopping experience if you ask me. Am I shopping at Rite Aid or Walgreens?

One town where this situation occurs is in Wellsville. While Walgreens already has a store in the community, which ironically is a former Rite Aid that was taken over after Rite Aid's Eckerd purchase. Rite Aid relocated to the Eckerd site with higher traffic counts and that store is what this post features. Walgreens still plans to apparently operate both locations as Walgreens from what I gather- eventually. But for now, a two-in-one store of competing companies continues to operate under one roof.

Welcome to Rite Aid with a Walgreens pharmacy

I really like this cart tunnel. Pretty cool and unique.

 

Kroger; In the Northeast?

---------------------------------------------  NEWS STORY ------------------------------------------------------

In a rather interesting turn of events for the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger, Kroger has evidently expressed an interest in buying some of the excess stores that will be created once the merger FINALLY goes through. This news is actually rather interesting because it not only brings Kroger into the northeast, but also creates the possibility of a new prototype for the company. 
The question is (assuming the deal were to go through) would Kroger operate a smaller supermarket within or just run a Kroger-branded drug store chain?

Being right in the middle of it all, I may just have a front row seat if Kroger does indeed get access to the 500-1,000 locations expected to be sold off.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/08/29/kroger-could-be-looking-to-snap-up-walgreens-rite.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

Are You Ready for the Rite Aid Makeover?

Unless you haven't paid attention to the news within the last 24 hours, you would well be aware that Walgreens has announced plans to merge with the 3rd largest pharmacy Rite Aid to form one LARGE company. Between the Family Dollar and Dollar Tree merger and now this, Walmart definitely must be feeling some heat.

I bring this topic up because the Rite Aid may stick around at first, but Walgreens has said they would likely phase the Rite Aid name out eventually. This begs the question to me personally how many exactly will close.The small main street Rite Aid I did a post on back in August seems unfit for a Walgreens to want. 

I can understand the general reasoning for Walgreens buying Rite Aid. Within an hour radius of my location there are only two Walgreens locations while Rite Aid has at least 6 locations within the same radius. (The funny thing is that the two Walgreens are both former Rite Aid locations that had relocated to former nearby Eckerd locations due to an overlap in that town.) Also, Walgreens doesn't have nearly as many PA locations as the PA-based Rite Aid does.

However there is also a downside to this merger, I know in most places that Walgreens and Rite Aid may literally have a location right across the street from each other. Here's just a few examples in Twin Tiers coverage area:

Bath, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3379397,-77.3311029,297m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Penn Yan, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6602495,-77.0563061,148m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Irondeqouit, NY:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1962545,-77.5997216,293m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Although Rite Aid was never really something I considered doing, its likely you'll start seeing some more Rite Aid posts in the future to remember the name while it is still alive. I won't be able to get all of the designs below but I should be able to get most of them. I leave you with a few exterior shots of the different designs I have taken. If you have any additional information on a Rite Aid design or pictures please leave a comment below or send an e-mail at natehenderson6@gmail.com. 

Other than the modern design, I don't know if the interior is different by design or not.

Small-Town/Limited Space Design: (Cities likely have this layout)

Diamond Window Design:

This style can be seen as red signage on white as seen above or the more common white on blue as seen below.

Peaked-Roof Design:

'Getting Fancy' Design:

Former Standalone Eckerd Locations: (can also come in tan)

Shopping Center/Mall Location: (Usually former Eckerd locations)

Modern/Wellness Design: (Rite Aid's newest design)