A longtime, locally owned drug store chain has been sold.

Camp Hill-based Rite Aid Corp. has acquired the assets of nine Kopp pharmacies from Kopp Drug Inc.

“The acquisition fits nicely with our strategy to focus our growth in existing markets and will help create a stronger presence in the Altoona market,” said Ashley Flower, Rite Aid spokeswoman.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the transaction includes the purchase of select Kopp Drug locations and pharmacy files.

Kopp Drug, which was inducted into the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame in 2007, was the oldest drug store in Altoona giving continuous service since its inception.

The company was established in 1878 by W.H. Irwin and was taken over by Yocum Kopp in 1920. In 1945, Joseph Cohn bought the business at 1515 11th Ave. Morley Cohn, Joseph’s son, took the reins from his father in 1970.

“We surely expect them to pick up the torch from Kopp Drug and continue as a community-oriented business. They will do their best to keep up our tradition of operating a community neighborhood business and be involved in the community just like we were,” Cohn said.

Rite Aid will rebrand, remodel and operate Kopp Drug locations at 3106 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd., 1600 Ninth Ave., 1201 Blair St., Hollidaysburg, and 94 June Drive, Roaring Spring.

Additionally, Rite Aid will also operate the Kopp pharmacy at 1365 Logan Ave., Tyrone, and will transfer the business of its existing store at 1212 Pennsylvania Ave. to that location.

Rite Aid plans to close three Kopp locations with prescription files transferred to nearby Rite Aid locations.

They include: 700 Valley View Blvd. to Rite Aid at 600 Chestnut Ave.; 5800 Sixth Ave. to Rite Aid at 3331 Pleasant Valley Blvd., and 930 Moore St., Huntingdon, to Rite Aid at 9635 William Penn Highway.

Lastly, the prescription files of the Kopp Drug location at 121 W. Allegheny St., Martinsburg, will eventually transfer to the Roaring Spring location.

“Rite Aid looks forward to welcoming Kopp Drug customers to Rite Aid and providing additional convenient locations to our existing customers. Patients whose prescriptions are being transferred will be notified by letter when their files are being transferred, and Rite Aid will work closely with Kopp Drug to ensure a smooth transfer and continuity of care,” Flower said.

All transfers, as well as remodels to the four locations Rite Aid will operate in place, are expected to be completed by mid-October.

Rite Aid is meeting with Kopp Drug associates to discuss employment opportunities.

“It is our goal to provide as many jobs as possible based on the needs of the business,” Flower said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.