The race is on: Eckerd or Walgreen’s

I think I may have mentioned in this column about Eckerd and Walgreen’s building stores in McMinnville. And I’m sure by now, most people have noticed the construction sites.

But never before have I revealed when the two stores are scheduled to open. Which drugstore will win the race?

I have that answer for you today, and in the end it doesn’t appear even close. Eckerd will beat Walgreen’s by about four months.

A company called U.S. General is in charge of building Eckerd and site supervisor Larry Clark told me the middle of November was the original target date. But work was delayed roughly a month so Larry estimates the store should now be open around the middle of December.

“It should be right around Christmas time,” said Larry. “U.S. General builds around 15 to 20 Eckerds a year so we’re pretty quick.”

Walgreen’s, on the other hand, isn’t scheduled to be finished until the end of April or the first of May, according to developer Buzz Copeland of Copeland Properties.

“We’re grading the site now and we’re almost ready to start the footing,” said Buzz, who indicated his company builds two or three Walgreen’s stores a year. Buzz said as a chain, Walgreen’s is opening over 400 stores a year. Buzz also said our new Walgreen’s will face Smithville Highway.