CVS Pharmacy Heading To Jonesboro

The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a national pharmacy chain to build its first location in Jonesboro.

The commission approved a final plat, agreeing to the moving of Madison Street between Southwest Drive and Highland Drive, for a CVS pharmacy. John G. Perry, of Memphis-based Kimsey-Horn, said construction could begin late this year with construction officials and architects still working on documents related to the project.

According to the site plan turned in by Kimsey-Horn, the store will be built on 3.69 acres of land on the site of the former Harp’s Grocery Store at Southwest and Highland. Nearly two acres will used to build the store. There is 13,225-square-feet set aside for the store, which will have a drive-thru and 24 hour service. There will also be 28,471-square-feet set aside for parking at the store.

City zoning official Otis Spriggs said store officials, along with neighbors, worked out a compromise to move the road. The Jonesboro City Council approved an amended ordinance, agreeing to the compromise at its Sept. 15 meeting. Perry said officials are still working on the specifics for the store, even when construction is expected to end.

However, the Jonesboro store will be the seventh one built in the state. Currently, there are stores in Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Sherwood, Springdale, Texarkana and Van Buren. Also, a store is being built in Paragould at the U.S. 49/U.S. 412 intersection, content partner KAIT reported earlier this year.

There are also nine CVS stores in the Memphis area.

While Perry provided no details about possible future stores in Jonesboro, he said the market is a winner for them.

“Based on my experience, Jonesboro is big enough to build two or three stores,” Perry said.