One of the biggest names in health care is staking a claim in Snohomish County.
CVS Health is building two pharmacies along Highway 99, one in Everett and the second in Lynnwood. It’s just a year after the pharmacy giant first moved into Washington, opening three stores in King County.
“That marked our entry into the Pacific Northwest, where we did not have a retail presence,” said Stephanie Cunha, CVS public relations manager, in an email.
And the company plans to continue its expansion in Washington. Another store is in the works in Seattle, she said.
The Everett store at 11819 Airport Road is expected to open in the first three months of 2016. The Lynnwood store at 19507 Highway 99 is expected to open later that spring. The stores will hire a total of 36 people. The stores will post signs to direct people CVS’ online application process. Both stores will be between 12,000- and 13,000-square feet. In addition to the pharmacy, CVS stores include photo labs, beauty departments and general merchandise.
CVS, which is headquartered in Rhode Island, has more than 7,800 retail stores and 1,000 walk-in clinics and, along with Walgreens, is one of the biggest players in the U.S. drug store market.
CVS Health, which changed its name from CVS Caremark last year, made about $139.4 billion in revenue last year. The company also made its share of headlines.
In 2014, CVS became the first major pharmacy chain to stop selling tobacco. This summer, CVS pulled out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce after it was reported that the group and its foreign affiliates were engaged in a global lobbying campaign against antismoking laws.
CVS is also growing. This year, the company purchased for $12.7 billion Omnicare, which distributes prescription drugs to nursing homes and assisted-living operations. And the company has reached a deal to buy the pharmacies within Target stores, adding another 1,600 pharmacies. Once the Target deal closes, CVS will operate 9,600 pharmacies or about one in seven retail pharmacies, according to the New York Times.
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