Columbus pharmacy to close as Walgreens completes $4 billion buyout

Walgreens has completed its $4 billion-plus purchase of the Rite Aid pharmacy stores, with one of the Columbus outlets now preparing to close its doors.

The Rite Aid store at 2300 Wynnton Road — adjacent to Wynnton Hardware — is scheduled to close on April 17, with the staff now working to sell off retail inventory. An employee answering the phone Wednesday said customer prescriptions will be transferred to the nearby Walgreens pharmacy at 2510 Wynnton Road, less than a half-mile away.

Rite Aid operates four locations in Columbus, the others being on Double Churches Road, Beaver Run Road and Macon Road. Those stores will remain open and keep the Rite Aid signage for the time being, although the pharmacy systems have been converted to that of Walgreens. Sign changes from Rite Aid to Walgreens will be phased in over time, the company said.

“Thank you for calling Rite Aid, now a Walgreens pharmacy,” the phone prompt says when customers call the Rite Aid outlets.

Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid confirmed Wednesday that the transfer of 1,932 stores and other assets to Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens has been completed. Walgreens already operates seven locations in the Columbus-Phenix City market. There are no Rite Aids in Phenix City.

This story was originally published March 28, 2018 at 1:09 PM with the headline "Columbus pharmacy to close as Walgreens completes $4 billion buyout."