CVS plans first St. Louis location

ST. LOUIS Walgreens’ stores in St. Louis are about to get some competition.

CVS already has several stores around Kansas City, Mo., and in the portion of St. Louis’ metro area that lies in Illinois, but has yet to enter the city proper. St. Louis County records, however, show the Rhode Island-based chain is planning its first store in the city—about a 12,900 square foot location—with more to follow, according to published reports.

CVS announced earlier this year plans to open 300 to 325 stores in 2008, a little over half of which will be new. CVS operates 6,200 stores nationwide—about 17 percent of the market—roughly comparable to Walgreens.