NORWICH – Eckerd Pharmacy drug stores in Norwich and Greene are among the 356 in New York that will be purchased by Rite Aid Corp., endangering local jobs and most likely closing a store in Norwich.

Rite Aid Corp. announced last week that it was purchasing the U.S. subsidiary of the Canadian firm the Jean Coutu Group Inc., including a total of 1,858 Eckerd and Brooks drug stores. A spokesperson for the firm said business will continue as usual up until closing, which is expected to happen sometime between December and the end of February. No exact dates were given.

All of the stores involved in the deal will be re-branded as Rite Aid stores. In cases where a Rite Aid and Eckerd store are within close proximity, such as in the City of Norwich, management would determine which structure was the most up-to-date and offered the best services.

“All stores will go through a regulatory process and then be evaluated. There would be no disruption for customers. It will be a seamless move,” Rite Aid Corp. spokesperson Jody Smith said.