Update 05/13/2019: https://www.mysaline.com/fsd-closes-159/
It’s been a process over the last few months for Fred’s stores to divest from their pharmacy business. According to a press release from Walgreens in September 2018,
“Walgreens and Fred’s, Inc. today announced they have entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement, pursuant to which Walgreens will acquire pharmacy patient prescription files and related pharmacy inventory of 185 Fred’s stores located across 10 Southeastern states.
In Saline County, it means that Benton, Shannon Hills and Haskell no longer have a Fred’s Pharmacy. For Benton and Haskell, there’s still a Fred’s store, but in Shannon Hills, the pharmacy was the whole store, and Walgreens only bought the customer files, not the operations. It doesn’t mean Fred’s Stores are closing, it just means you won’t go there for your prescriptions anymore. Customers in Benton have lots of options, but Shannon Hills customers must go outside their city and have taken their business to pharmacies in the Landmark, Otter Creek and Bryant areas.
They lost their only pharmacy in Haskell as well, but all is not lost. The pharmacist that was working at the pharmacy in the Fred’s Store there, Ray Bob Harrison, has signed a deal to stay in Haskell and open his own business, according to the property owner, Mary Beth Kelloms. In addition, Kelloms says there will be a new doctor’s office in town. It’s going to be called the Haskell Family Medical Center. They are looking to break ground as soon as possible.
Update 05/13/2019: https://www.mysaline.com/fsd-closes-159/