Helotes CVS (Bandera: 2010, purchase, construction)

[Lee W.]

I've passed by this CVS. which appears to have had no work done on it for over a year, just sitting there as far as I know. What happened? I know there has been construction going on in another part of the shopping center next to it. But it just seems odd that the CVS never opened. Anyone know what happened?

[majormadmax]

From: Rumors | The Helotes Herald

UPDATED 2/23/10: At the EDC meeting on February 17, the Mayor (who was in attendance) reported that the CVS is now scheduled to open on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. He also said that 140 people had applied to work at the CVS during the two job fairs they held and that 85 percent of that 140 were Helotes residents. The Mayor also said that he had been told by CVS management that it is not unusual to let a completed CVS store sit for up to 6 months before opening it. So, maybe we’ll have an open, functioning CVS in another 2 weeks or so.

Cheers! M2

[TexasNick]

Dang, 140? It would suck to not get the job. I know a guy that did not qualify to work at McDonalds, but the Navy took him. That's got to be disheartening to be turned down by a fast food restaurant, but, he will come back a better man after his time in the military.

[Lee W.]

I personally think it's unusual to have one sit there for a year. There has to be a reason. Of course, I know that after construction was started on the Bandera & 1604 H.E.B., someone found out no permit was pulled and construction was ordered halted for one year. But this one appeared to be finished more than a year ago. And notice that "maybe"...obviously no date has been set even now!

[MattTx]

CVS built a store off fredericksburg road near 410 (Opposite of super target). The store looks finished but they still have yet to open it. In addition to that, there is an Office Depot that was just built recently near crossroads mall which has not opened yet either.

I don't understand why they build these stores and then they sit unopened for long periods of time. That has got to be expensive!

[majormadmax]

Well, the contracting and construction of these stores probably took place a while back; and since the economy has slowed down a bit. CVS' stock also took a bit of a dive in November (roughly 25%) when the board of directors authorized a program under which the company will repurchase up to $2B worth of common stock. As of the end of 2009, CVS had repurchased $500M worth of stock. All that may explain the delay in opening new stores...

[sshurgot]

The Helotes CVS hasn't been finished for over a year, not even a year. I was driving by it every day; they were still working on it last summer, and it started to "look" finished early in the fall of 2009 - call it 6 months ago - but they may still have been installing stuff inside.

[CTSanders]

Just talked to CVS pharmacist, they are opening on March 21st.

[majormadmax]

Yep, drove by there today and it is open for business!