When the Kill Devil Hills Rite Aid closes later this month, it leaves Nags Head without any pharmacy in town or on its borders. 

But for Walgreens, which recently purchased 1,932 Rite Aid stores in a $4.4 billion deal, it’s purely a business decision, a company spokesman said. 

“Closing stores is never an easy decision,” Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso said. “Our goal is to ensure that we have the right number of stores in the right locations to continue to help us deliver the greatest value for our customers.” 

The Kill Devil Hills Rite Aid is one of about 600 stores Walgreens has closed or is planning to close in the aftermath of the pharmacy merger. The proximity of a Walgreens store, less than a mile away from Rite Aid at 1200 S. Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills, spurred the decision. 

Signs are already up at the CVS and Walgreens stores nearby reading “Welcome Rite Aid customers.” Rite Aid prescriptions will be automatically transferred to Walgreens, and most employees of the closing store will be offered positions at Walgreens, the company says. 

“As we previously announced, we will be closing some store locations to help ensure we have the right stores in the right locations to create a more focused network,” Caruso said. 

The Rite Aid pharmacy’s last day of business is May 14, but the store will remain open for approximately two more weeks for final sales, Caruso said. The building is up for lease. 

After the closure, the Outer Banks’ lone remaining Rite Aid will be the Kitty Hawk store at the corner of U.S. 158 and Virginia Dare Trail. Walgreens has not announced any plans for that location.