The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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September 10, 2012

Walgreens buying, closing four drugstores in Joplin area

By Wally Kennedy news@joplinglobe.com

JOPLIN, Mo. — A May’s Drug Warehouse store in Joplin and another in Webb City, and two smaller pharmacies in Neosho and Carthage are closing as part of the acquisition of those stores by Walgreens.

James W. Graham, senior manager for Walgreens media relations in Deerfield, Ill., said Monday the stores to be closed are the Drug Warehouse at 1410 E. Seventh St. in Joplin and the Drug Warehouse at 1636 S. Madison Ave. in Webb City.

The pharmacies to be closed are the Vista Pharmacy, 1601 Missouri Ave. in Carthage, and Jon’s Pharmacy, 219 S. Washington St. in Neosho.

Graham said the stores will be closing by November.

The Drug Warehouse at 3222 S. Main St. in Joplin is not among the stores that are to be closed.

A corporate spokesman for USA Drug, which owned the stores that are being closed, could not be reached for comment on Monday as to the number of people who will lose their jobs at each location. Calls to the stores on Monday were directed to the corporate spokesman.

Graham said, “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 four stores in the area around Joplin, specifically one each in Joplin, Neosho, Carthage and Webb City,’’ he said.

“Our decisions about store closures are based on a number of considerations, including size of the market and proximity to other Walgreens and USA Drug stores and affiliates.’’

Graham said all USA Drug customers will be notified of the location of a nearby Walgreens or USA Drug-affiliated store where their prescription information will be transferred. No other action will be needed by pharmacy customers to have their existing prescriptions filled at any Walgreens store, he said.

The Walgreens acquisition of USA Drug includes 144 stores currently operated as USA Drug, Super D Drug, May’s Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee.





Longtime presence

May’s Drug and Drug Warehouse long have had a presence in the Joplin market. USA Drug bought May’s and Drug Warehouse from chief executive officer Gerald Heller in 2004. May’s opened in Joplin in 1937.

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