Newcastle store to remain open as retail chain files bankruptcy
Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
Newcastle’s Shopko Hometown store will remain open, although its pharmacy will close, according to Marj Pederson, the store’s manager.
“The store will remain open. We are not going anywhere,” Pederson said.
All Shopko pharmacies across the nation will close, Pederson said, but the timeline for the closure of the local pharmacy is unclear.
“They (Shopko) are putting out bids to be bought out by private companies. It is a one-on-one basis as far as when the pharmacies will close,” Pederson said. “There is no timeline that I know of.”
In a press release from Shopko earlier this week, the Wisconsin-based retailer announced that it has “filed voluntary petitions for a court-supervised financial restructuring under Chapter 11.” During this process, Shopko will continue to operate and serve its customers, vendors, partners and employees, according to the release.
“Given the current retail environment and ongoing competitive pressures, operating a smaller overall footprint is the right strategy for Shopko,” the release states.
It notes that, like other retailers, Shopko has experienced difficulties over the past few years, leading to the decision to financially restructure and have a smaller footprint.
“Shopko will be able to allocate the resources and capital needed to build a stronger company that is well-positioned to serve its customers, vendors, employees and other stakeholders,” the release says.
As far as the pharmacies go, the release states that Shopko will notify pharmacy customers via mail when a pharmacy will close. Included in this letter will be the location to which their prescription has been transferred.
Weston County Health Services CEO Maureen Cadwell said that the pharmacy at the critical access hospital will remain open and continue to serve the community.
“We have the drive-through open and the walk-in pharmacy available. We also provide a lot of over-the-counter things in our storefront,” Cadwell said. “The staff is ready, willing and able to take on any amount of numbers we have come in.”
She noted that the facility was aware of the Shopko pharmacy’s planned closure and since that time the hospital pharmacy has seen an increase in prescriptions.
“It saddens us to lose that additional service in our area, but it sounds like, with Shopko, it is a national situation. They have in a lot of pharmacies throughout their system,” Cadwell said.
Shopko has 360 stores in 26 states. According to a report at www.Forbes.com, Shopko is selling 146 pharmacies at auction as part of the restructuring plan.
For a complete list of Shopko closures and to stay up-to-date on pharmacy closures throughout the nation, visit info.shopko.com