Report: Walgreens Close to Buying Rite Aid

By JASON CLAFFEY (Patch Staff)

Walgreens will reportedly buy Rite Aid in a mega-merger of two of the largest drugstore chains in the country.

Walgreens is expected to announce the deal as soon as Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In Massachusetts, Walgreens operates 167 stores, while Rite Aid operates 148 stores. Combined, the stores run more than 13,000 stores in 11 countries.

Melrose is home to one Walgreens and one Rite Aid.

Both companies are worth a combined $10 billion, the Journal reported.