CVS is moving into its new Sherwood location at the northeast corner of Highway 107 and Kiehl Ave.
Looks like CVS Caremark Corp. of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is wading deeper into the Arkansas market, and it hopes to compete with more than just pharmaceuticals.
New CVS Pharmacy locations are in the works, and some plan to sell beer and wine.
There’s currently one CVS store in the state, on the Arkansas side of North Stateline Avenue in Texarkana.
The pharmacy opened in October 2012, three months after Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Illinois, announced it was buying Stephen L. LaFrance Holding Inc.’s USA Drug and Super D Drug stores for $438 million.
Construction has started on the second CVS in Arkansas, at 8604 Hwy. 107 in Sherwood, with plans to open Aug. 31. The pharmacy has applied for a permit to sell beer and wine. CVS said it sells beer and wine to provide customers with “convenient access.”
The Walgreens at 8521 Hwy. 107, kitty-corner to the CVS under construction in Sherwood, does not sell alcohol. There are eight Walgreens pharmacies in Little Rock that sell beer as well as one in Maumelle and one in Newport.
Walgreens classifies beer and wine as a “convenience” on its website. Blue Rhino propane gas exchange and Redbox DVD rentals are also listed in the convenience category.
CVS plans to open three more locations in the state before year’s end:
- 2015 Fayetteville Road in Van Buren opens Sept. 21;
- 2833 Bella Vista Way in Bella Vista opens sometime in October; and
- 2402 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville will wrap up this round when it opens sometime in November.
Conway’s historic district commission has also approved site plans for a location at the southeast corner of East Oak and Harkrider streets, but CVS did not acknowledge Conway as a future pharmacy location.
CVS did say it was looking at other opportunities for new stores in the state but wouldn’t be more specific.
Sign up for Daily E-news
