The Bartell Drug Company, commonly known as Bartell Drugs and referred to by locals as simply "Bartell's", is a chain of pharmacies in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. Bartell Drug stores primarily serve the Seattle area. Bartell's was believed to be the nation's oldest existing family-owned drugstore chain[2] until it was sold to Rite Aid in 2020.
1890 to 1956
Bartell Drugs was founded in 1890 when George H. Bartell Sr. (1868–1956) purchased the Lake Washington Pharmacy at 2711 South Jackson Street in Seattle's Central District.[3] Within eight years a second store was opened in 1898 in Downtown Seattle at 506 Second Ave. Two years later, George H. Bartell Sr., sold the Jackson Street store in 1900. Fourteen years after founding the first store George H. Bartell Sr. opened another store at 610 Second Ave in 1904. His third store was opened four years later in 1908 in front of Pike Place Market. In 1911 the 506 Second Avenue was closed and demolished to make space for the Smith Tower.[4]
As of 1930 there were 15 total stores. George Sr. handed the reins to his son, George H. Bartell Jr, in 1939. By the time of Bartell Sr.'s death in 1956 the Bartell family owned 23 drug stores.[4]
A Bartell Drugs stood in Downtown Seattle at Fourth and Pine; now the site of Westlake Park
1956 to 1984
The company underwent contraction over the next few years, with only 12 remaining drug stores in 1961, under the founder's grandson George D. Bartell. In 1966, seventy-six years after the company was founded, a 13th drug store was opened outside of King County in Edmonds, Washington. Over the following fourteen years the Bartell family had opened an additional four stores, totaling 17 Bartell Drug stores by 1980.[citation needed]
1990
Over the following ten years the Bartell family had opened an additional fourteen stores, totaling 31 Bartell Drug stores by the year 1990, Bartell's centennial. One hundred years after being founded, Bartell Drugs finally expanded outside of the King County Seattle area by opening a Bartell Drug store in Gig Harbor, Pierce County, on the Kitsap Peninsula in 1991. Joining the company in 1993 was Jean Bartell Barber, the founder's granddaughter. [5]
2000 and beyond
George D. Bartell, the founder's grandson served as Chairman and held the role of CEO until 2015. Former REI executive Brian Unmacht became the first non-family member CEO in the company's history in April 2015,[6] with Jean Bartell Barber, serving as Vice Chairman and Treasurer. Unmacht, originally hired in January 2015, as President,[7] resigned in March 2017 after two years.[8]
In January 2018, Bartell Drugs announced that it had hired a new CEO, Kathi Lentzsch. [9]
In addition to pharmaceuticals, Bartell Drugs began selling CBD in 2018.[10] As of February 2019 there were 68 stores in the Puget Sound region; each location features its own distinct neighborhood vibe and products. [11]
Acquisition by Rite Aid
On October 7, 2020, the company announced that it would be sold to Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid for $95 million.[12] At the time of the sale, Bartell Drugs had 69 locations in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. The acquisition was completed on December 18.[13] By 2023, five locations in Seattle had been closed by Rite Aid, including a flagship store in the Chinatown–International District neighborhood.[14][15] A sixth Seattle store in Lower Queen Anne—the chain's only 24-hour pharmacy in the city—is set to close in September 2023.[16] As of September 2023 the chain is set to close nine locations bringing the total number of locations down to 58.[17]
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