Click on the icon at the bottom of the page to access an audio report from KCOW’s Kevin Horn, which includes comments from Charles Lierk.

After remaining closed for four months following a June 12 police standoff at Thiele Pharmacy and Gifts, the store re-opened this past Monday under the new name, Thiele Gifts and More at 304 Box Butte in downtown Alliance.

The pharmacy portion of the business will remain in the former Alliance Medical Clinic building north of Box Butte General Hospital at 2307 Box Butte Avenue.

However, owner Charles Lierk is announcing today that his pharmacy has been sold to Safeway, and it will be relocated to the Safeway Grocery Store at Third and Mississippi in Alliance on December 5.

Lierk says the sale of his pharmacy to Safeway has been in the works for several months, and that he and several of his current staff members will be employed by Safeway. He says he feels that even though the business name will no longer be Thiele Pharmacy, he believes Safeway will try to reflect the image that Thiele’s has had for over 100 years.

The 63-year-old Lierk says the sale is a good match, because he will be able to retire in a few years, and yet keep the pharmacy in Alliance.

“I’ve always wanted to keep the pharmacy in Alliance,” he said. “Having the gift store downtown and the pharmacy at Safeway will be a good match. I really believe people will continue to see the Thiele image at Safeway. They understand the personal service we have provided such as charge accounts and delivery. They probably will also offer flu shots and other services to customers as well.”

Lierk stresses that the pharmacy at 2307 Box Butte will operate non-stop through Dec. 4, and then open on Dec. 5 at Safeway.

The new Safeway Pharmacy hours will be announced at a later date.

Listen:

Safeway_Purchases_Thiele_Pharmacy_1