CVS Will Rebuild 2 Stores in Baltimore

[bravenak]

Daniella Silva / NBC News 7:47 PM ET

Pharmacy giant CVS Health announced Wednesday it will rebuild two store locations badly burned during protests in Baltimore last week in response to the death of Freddie Gray.

“We have a long history of serving inner city communities and we are 100 percent committed to serving our patients and customers in Baltimore,” CEO Larry Merlo said in a statement released Thursday. The company did not release a timeline for rebuilding, but said they were “working diligently to make it as soon as possible.”

http://time.com/3849673/cvs-health-baltimore-riots-stores/

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Translation:

We can't stand to go a day without gouging the public.

[bravenak]

2. .

When the Thrifty's pharmacy got burned in 92, we got a Savon's and a Rite Aid in it's place. They were some of the first things rebuilt and they were very nice compared to the old pharmacy. Expensive. But well stocked.

[matt819]

17. Or

Maybe they're just going the right thing. What would you prefer?

[IronLionZion]

18. Many folks waited a good many years to get 1 pharmacy

big chains are more likely to have insurance and financing to take the risk of opening in low income neighborhoods. People need medicine and people work there.

Many independent shops won't be able to reopen.

[Recursion]

24. I just don't get the CVS hate here

Their drugs are priced competitively. If you buy groceries or sunglasses or whatever there they are expensive, yes, but then CVS is not a grocery or sunglasses store. They don't sell tobacco and I'm 99% sure in MD they don't sell alcohol. Many locations have a Nurse Practitioner on-site for drop-in clinic stuff.

My old neighborhood in DC (which in the 90s still had burned-down lots from '68) went without a drug store for years until CVS opened an outlet, finally, and people loved it (I know, I know... why should the neighborhood with the highest diabetes rate in DC want a drug store?)

[Terra Alta]

3. Good.

Hopefully in the meantime, they will make accommodations for the employees of the damaged stores.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. I am hopeful the employees go on to find much better paying jobs myself.

[bravenak]

5. I hope so too. It's possible.

[Raine1967]

6. I heard on local news (Baltimore/DC area)

that all of the employees are still getting their regular paychecks. They are also being offered a chance to relocate to another store.

Wit this news, it appears that they will be able to stay local.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/30/news/companies/cvs-baltimore-riots-jobs/

[Stardust]

7. That's wonderful news, too. Nt

[Raine1967]

10. it is. eom

[Number23]

9. Oh, that is fantastic news. I was hoping something like this would have happened.

[Raine1967]

11. same here. SAd this one didn't really hit the media like it should have.

although I suspect the employees don;t care, they can still bring home a paycheck.

good on CVS for this.

[Sissyk]

12. That's fantastic news!

THanks for posting that, Raine.

[Raine1967]

14. you're welcome. I kinda assumed this was already an OP

posted a few days ago, and I had missed it…

[tammywammy]

22. That's fantastic news. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

8. k&r

[Sissyk]

13. K&R

Thanks for posting this, bravenak! That is good to hear.

[bravenak]

15. You're welcome.

I know many were worried about this. Nice to see some good things starting to happen.

[Sissyk]

16. It is nice to see good things starting to happen.

My sons Aunties, Uncles, and numerous cousins live in Baltimore. We've been staying up to date through two of his cousins until the past few days.

The last time we all talked though, I could hear a spark of hope in their voices. I truly hope it stays that way.

[frylock]

19. gee, we were assured that was never ever going to happen..

good news to be sure.

[bravenak]

20. Heh. I know. The negative ones predicted the gloom and doom they wanted to see.

[frylock]

21. no doubt

[tammywammy]

23. That's good news.

I shop at CVS all the time.

[bravenak]

26. We have walgreen's.

I have never been in a CVS before. I'm sure glad they will get them back. I hope more good things happen.

[mythology]

25. Good and hopefully the circumstances that let people riot will also be addressed

It was a small percentage of the protestors, no sense letting them ruin things for others.