The Bartell Drug Company
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Pharmacy
Founded1890 (1890) in Seattle, Washington
FounderGeorge H. Bartell, Sr.
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington
Number of locations
54[1]
ParentRite Aid
Websitebartelldrugs.com

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 he closed the downtown store which was opened three years earlier at 506 Second Avenue.

As of 1930 there were 15 total stores. George Sr. handed the reins to his son, George H. Bartell Jr, in 1939. By 1956 the Bartell family owned 23 drug stores; additionally, founder George H. Bartell Sr died the same year. [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.

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]

On October 15, 2023, amid several opioid lawsuits and legal battles, Rite Aid filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.[18] Seven Bartell locations are set to close in November as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, leaving 51 remaining stores.[19] By the end of December, 21 Bartell Drugs locations open at the time of the acquisition had closed; all six locations in Downtown Seattle are among those closed, including the flagship store on 5th Avenue.[20] Since the acquisition, customers have also complained of poor service and unavailable products.[21]

Legacy and influence

In December 2004 Harvey Danger, an alternative rock band from Seattle, released the EP Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes), which mentions Bartell Drugs in the second verse.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Find a Store". Bartell Drugs. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ Smith, Rob (June 16, 2002). "Family-owned Bartell Drug still strong after 112 years". Puget Sound Business Journal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2002. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ the Story of BartellDrugs.com
  4. ↑ "Bartell, George H. Sr. (1868-1956)". HistoryLink.org. February 12, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  5. ↑ Jean Bartell Barber ~ Treasurer and Vice Chairman
  6. ↑ González, Ángel (April 29, 2015). "Former REI executive becomes Bartell Drugs' fourth CEO". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ González, Ángel (January 7, 2015). "Former REI executive named Bartell Drugs' new president". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  8. ↑ Tu, Janet I. (April 7, 2017). "Bartell Drugs CEO resigns after two years as first outsider to run the chain". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ Bartell Drugs Press Releases - Bartell Drugs hires new CEO
  10. ↑ Bartell Drugs blog - What is CBD
  11. ↑ Bartell Drugs - More than 128 years of loving and living local
  12. ↑ Roberts, Paul (October 7, 2020). "Bartell Drugs, a local, family owned business for 130 years, to be sold to Rite Aid for $95 million". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  13. ↑ Form 10-K: Rite Aid Corporation Annual Report For Fiscal Year Ended February 27, 2021 (PDF) (Report). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. April 27, 2021. p. 106. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  14. ↑ Geraldo, Renata (July 25, 2023). "Bartell Drugs location in downtown Seattle to close this month". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  15. ↑ Geraldo, Renata (June 29, 2023). "Rite Aid closes another Bartell Drugs in Seattle amid financial struggles". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  16. ↑ Roberts, Paul (August 29, 2023). "Another Seattle Bartell Drugs to close amid Rite Aid bankruptcy rumors". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  17. ↑ Geraldo, Renata (September 14, 2023). "Rite Aid closes Lynnwood Bartell Drugs, doesn't say how many to follow". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ Goldman, David (October 15, 2023). "Rite Aid files for bankruptcy". CNN. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ Roberts, Paul (November 3, 2023). "More Bartell Drugs to shutter amid Rite Aid's bankruptcy". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ Roberts, Paul (December 15, 2023). "What the loss of downtown Seattle's last Bartell Drugs says about the chain's decline". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  21. ↑ Roberts, Paul (November 17, 2023). "With a quarter of its locations gone, Bartell's future uncertain". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  22. ↑ Harvey Danger - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas with lyrics

47°33′41″N 122°20′05″W / 47.56135°N 122.334755°W / 47.56135; -122.334755

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