BIZNOTE: Here’s the rest of the West Seattle drugstore-change picture

Though Rite Aid still is not officially commenting on store-by-store plans in the wake of its latest bankruptcy, info is becoming available at/from local stores. Back on Tuesday, with the help of reader tips, we reported on notices now posted at two affected stores that say they’re converting to CVS – the California SW Rite Aid says August 5 is its changeover date; Bartell Drugs in Admiral says its date is September 3. Since then, we’ve learned the plans for two other affected West Seattle stores. Bartell Drugs in Jefferson Square has a notice posted saying it too will convert to CVS, on August 29:

And Rite Aid in Westwood Village – the one store with a retail lease announced as available, as we reported last month – says the current plan is to just close. No notice was posted when we went in, but pharmacy staff told WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen that the store/pharmacy will close on August 26. If you have a current prescription there, you’ll want to talk with them ASAP about what you want to do with it, as otherwise, they told us, prescriptions will be automatically transferred elsewhere, possibly to one of the West Seattle Walgreens or the Jefferson Square Bartell that as mentioned above is converting to CVS.

SIDE NOTE: These conversions will be CVS’s first foray into West Seattle; a previous plan for a standalone store at the current site of mixed-use Maris (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW) died in Design Review almost a decade ago.

Jay June 19, 2025 (3:18 pm)

This isn’t verified firsthand, but I know a pharmacist who heard from a Bartells pharmacist that they were all getting fired and made to re-apply for their jobs with the CVS acquisition. It’s not an easy career with all of the mergers, acquisitions, and short-staffing that’s been going on. The 30 minute lunch break was a major win. I feel bad for them. It has been seen as a secure career path in many immigrant communities, but the quality and security of a pharmacy career is slipping.

K June 19, 2025 (3:20 pm)

CVS moved into the area by planting all of their new stores adjacent to existing Bartell Drugs locations, hoping to squeeze out any local competition and take over. Sad to see them succeed, and to have fewer choices for retail pharmacies.

Thomas June 19, 2025 (7:17 pm)

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Bartells was no longer a local buisness. The acquisition by Rite Aid was a disaster. Still.I tried to continue using Bartells.I finally gave in and went to Scripps just recently. A lot less hassle no waiting . Scripps emails me and also.calls to make sure I have enough medication.

AK June 19, 2025 (3:55 pm)

So happy CVS is moving into The California Ave SW store! We keep a drugstore in our neighborhood and don’t have to deal with more apartments! Win ! Win!

K June 19, 2025 (6:50 pm)

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CVS is under investigation for antitrust violations and other shady stuff. If you prefer that company to additional humans who will support small local businesses, that’s just sad.

I love competition June 19, 2025 (5:20 pm)

Pharmacies used to be mom-and-pop businesses almost exclusively for many years until about the 60s or 70s when big box corporate pharmacy stores (think Walgreens, CVS, etc ) insurers, and payback deals combined to out-compete and crush all mom-and-pops out of existence. Then a large handful of corporate pharmacy chain giants was all that was left. We all sat silent when this happened. So now we only have corporate pharmacies, except in rural spots, and now the corporate ones can’t stay in business. And consumers suffer. Who to blame? Right wing trickle down types who drove the corporatization, or us for letting it happen? Hopefully this will change and the pendulum can swing back now that the corporate greed has backfired.