Rite Aid buys Seattle-based Bartell Drugs

SEATTLE — Seattle-based and family-owned Bartell Drugs announced Wednesday it has been sold to Rite Aid for $95 million.

Bartell Drugs operates 67 locations in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties and has been serving the Northwest since 1890. It will join Rite Aid’s 69 Seattle-area existing stores and will continue to operate under the Bartell Drugs name.

“For more than a century, Bartell’s has been an integral part of the fabric of Seattle and neighboring communities serving families with pharmacy services while promoting the health and well-being of local communities,” said Heyward Donigan, president and chief executive officer, Rite Aid. “The acquisition of Bartell’s fits perfectly into and accelerates our RxEvolution strategy, as our companies share a commitment to total health and wellness, the importance of the pharmacist as a trusted health advisor and the critical role the neighborhood pharmacy plays. Expansion within the growing Seattle area will allow Rite Aid to better serve customers, health plans and healthcare providers.”

“Looking forward to the future with Rite Aid,” said George D. Bartell, Chairman of Bartell Drugs, “we are excited about the opportunity to expand upon our mission to be the best neighborhood drug store in the Pacific Northwest. Rite Aid’s vision fits well with what we think will best serve the needs of our customers. This is a day to celebrate the 130-year success story of Bartell Drugs, while eagerly anticipating the future.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Cox Media Group