Walgreens Buys USA Drug
By: Deedra Wilson, KARK 4 News
Updated: July 6, 2012
Drug store giant Walgreens announces plans today to buy locally owned USA Drug and all its stores across the region.
But this decision, doesn't mean goodbye for the drug stores.
The transaction includes 144 stores, corporate offices and distribution center in Pine Bluff for a total of 438-million dollars.
But the one thing money can't buy here and that's friendship and family.
Ellis Mcintyre has been coming to this USA drug store in Pine Bluff for as long as he can remember.
"Well I'm surprised that they sold, really?
Hearing the drug store has been sold shocked him.
Mcintyre says he started coming here when owner of USA drug Stephen LaFrance brought the company to Pine Bluff almost 44 years ago, and they became friends.
But LaFrance says his employees are more like family than friends, he knows most of them of them by name at the USA Drug Distribution Center.
Why are you selling?
"It was time. I'm 70 years old and wanna quit."
There are 47 stores across the state and two offices, with a total of 1,374 employees in Arkansas.
LaFrance, says he doesn't expect anyone to lose their jobs.
And Walgreens has told him everything will remain the same.
Robert Douglas has been with the company for two decades, his number one concern, will he keep his job?
"Well I just hope to keep doing what I'm doing and hope they recognize my good works."
Just down the hall Karen Taylor is used to crunching numbers, but not saying goodbye to the man she says raised her.
"I'm glad for him, he needs it. It's time for him but not time for us.
A warehouse full of memories and friends, that LaFrance leaves behind.
"I've been with him a long time."
But this decision, doesn't mean goodbye for the drug stores.
The transaction includes 144 stores, corporate offices and distribution center in Pine Bluff for a total of 438-million dollars.
But the one thing money can't buy here and that's friendship and family.
Ellis Mcintyre has been coming to this USA drug store in Pine Bluff for as long as he can remember.
"Well I'm surprised that they sold, really?
Hearing the drug store has been sold shocked him.
Mcintyre says he started coming here when owner of USA drug Stephen LaFrance brought the company to Pine Bluff almost 44 years ago, and they became friends.
But LaFrance says his employees are more like family than friends, he knows most of them of them by name at the USA Drug Distribution Center.
Why are you selling?
"It was time. I'm 70 years old and wanna quit."
There are 47 stores across the state and two offices, with a total of 1,374 employees in Arkansas.
LaFrance, says he doesn't expect anyone to lose their jobs.
And Walgreens has told him everything will remain the same.
Robert Douglas has been with the company for two decades, his number one concern, will he keep his job?
"Well I just hope to keep doing what I'm doing and hope they recognize my good works."
Just down the hall Karen Taylor is used to crunching numbers, but not saying goodbye to the man she says raised her.
"I'm glad for him, he needs it. It's time for him but not time for us.
A warehouse full of memories and friends, that LaFrance leaves behind.
"I've been with him a long time."
