BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Here’s the rest of the West Seattle drugstore-change picture for Rite Aid, Bartell stores

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.

17 Replies to "BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Here's the rest of the West Seattle drugstore-change picture for Rite Aid, Bartell stores"

  • 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. 

    • tonenotvolume June 20, 2025 (8:49 am)

      Just to confirm this, spoke to cheery Bartells employee who said the same.

  • 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)

      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.

      • K June 20, 2025 (1:18 pm)

        CVS started their pressure campaign on Bartells long before they were sold to Rite Aid, and the sale was the victory CVS wanted.

  • 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)

      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.  

    • Josh June 20, 2025 (10:22 am)

      Honest question.  How does one “deal with more apartments”?  I have no idea what this even means.  I am assuming you are referencing this in relation to your status as a resident of the area and not like some sort of city appointed superintendent of apartment inspections or something.  I as just a plain resident of the area and not one who works in the apartment industry was unaware that I am supposed to be somehow dealing with more apartments.

  • 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.

  • Leonette June 19, 2025 (8:55 pm)

    Hmm; and yours?

  • CMB June 20, 2025 (8:45 am)

    These pharmacies were not health care providers but just booze & tobacco retailers that sold prescriptions on the side.   I switched to Amazon and I’ll never go back to a traditional pharmacy.  No lines, no hassles.  

  • anonyme June 20, 2025 (9:36 am)

    I was thinking of switching to the QFC pharmacy.  Anyone had experience with them? CVS is even worse than Rite Aid.

    • Shippinmoment June 20, 2025 (12:58 pm)

      qfc is described by kroger as a pure loss leader in supermarkets..they bring ‘em in but especially around Seattle with the union contracts majority are not ever getting enough foot traffic to support baseline costs…see many shutting doors this or next yr , now that that proposed ugly merger flamed out..one of the participants in that disclosed how majority of the qfc’s do not operate where they pay the bills hardly even…therefore I’d consider fred meyer maybe , or safeway 

    • WS Res June 20, 2025 (2:23 pm)

      We get our cat’s insulin from the pharmacy at Alaska Junction QFC and they’re perfectly fine to work with.

  • D-Mom June 20, 2025 (1:51 pm)

    The closure of the Westwood Village Rite Aid now means that there is no pharmacy in the entire south end outside of Safeway and possibly QFC, though I can’t even recall if the Westwood QFC has a pharmacy.  

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