Since the company was purchased by Rite Aid in October 2020, the demise of Bartell Drugs locations in our region has been well documented. As dozens of stores closed (including “Store #1” in downtown Seattle in December) various locations seemed to be hanging on, and I’m sure I wasn’t alone in hoping that the Wallingford Bartell’s would avoid the hit. Alas, it is not so. In the last week of January, “STORE CLOSING” and “ENTIRE STORE ON SALE!” signs appeared on the store’s facade and interior, their garish all-caps urgency a further kick to the gut.
On a recent visit, …