Looking to shed stores nationwide, Walgreens sells Fort Myers location

Naples/Fort Myers

Drug deal:  Walgreens has sold one of its stores in Fort Myers. The location that changed hands is at 6370 Bayshore Road. It was bought by a New York-based LLC created in August named Ommy North Fort Myers. Ommy, according to Lee County records, paid $3.7 million for the property, about $500,000 less than what the drugstore chain paid for it in 2007. According to a copy of the listing posted on Loopnet, the 14,707-square-foot store comes with a 15-year-lease guaranteed by the Illinois drug store chain and “zero landlord obligations.” The sale of the store comes after Walgreens announced in June that it would shutter about 150 U.S. locations by the end of next year. Earlier this year, the chain sold at least seven other locations along the Gulf Coast.

State of emergency: Construction is underway on a $28.7 million expansion of Lee County’s Emergency Operations Center. The work officially started Nov. 2 at a ceremonial groundbreaking. The expansion, in the works before Hurricane Ian hit last year, will allow the county to house personnel and departments whose focus is responding to emergencies. And when the need arises, it will be staffed with key employees from first-responder agencies, relief organizations, county departments and utility companies. The project will include bringing in technology along with restrooms, showers and sleeping accommodations. There will also be a training facility and the building will house a new emergency communications center. County commissioners approved the 36,873 square-foot, two-story expansion in September. The work is expected to be completed in 19 months and when done, the building on Ortiz Avenue in Fort Myers will be renamed the Lee County Public Safety Center.