Construction begins on Walgreens store in Tutu
Published: August 13, 2012
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ST. THOMAS - The new Walgreens store in Tutu is starting to take shape, but it won't be open for business until next year.
After months of clearing the land and preparing the foundation, the steel frame of the building began to go up last week.
"We're looking to open that store early 2013," Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said.
It is unclear how the entrance and egress to the store will be laid out.
V.I. Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls said he did not believe there was going to be a traffic light installed there, and a turning lane may be put in to facilitate traffic flow through the area.
Elfinger said he had no information about the traffic improvements that might be made as part of the construction.
The company operates 7,742 drugstores in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, but this will be the first Walgreens in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Located on Rhymer Highway, across from McDonald's and Tutu Park Mall, the 15,660-square-foot building will be both pharmacy and convenience store.
A typical Walgreens stores 18,000 items: medications, groceries, over-the-counter health products, greeting cards, cosmetics, household goods and photo-finishing services. In addition, Walgreens pharmacists offer a full array of vaccinations through its pharmacy, according to Elfinger.
The store will create 25 to 30 jobs on St. Thomas, and people can apply for jobs online at Walgreens.jobs, Elfinger said.
Some Walgreens are open 24 hours a day, but Elfinger said the final decision for the St. Thomas store has not been made. Many Walgreens serve customers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, with some variation of weekend service.
Virgin Islands' vendors with products they feel are right for Walgreens stores can send an email to stthomas.vs@walgreens.com.
All Walgreens pharmacies share a prescription database that will allow visitors to buy refills on St. Thomas and give locals the chance to get prescriptions at other Walgreens store locations while they are on vacation, according to Walgreens officials.
- Contact reporter Aldeth Lewin at 714-9111 or email alewin@dailynews.vi.
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