Shopko is acquiring a locally owned pharmacy in Orofino as part of its plans to locate in the Clearwater County town of about 3,000 people.

Glenwood Pharmacy, at 1105 Michigan Ave., will become part of Shopko on Monday. It will operate from its present location until Shopko opens in Orofino in the fall of 2016 at an unspecified address on Michigan Avenue, according to a Shopko news release.

The pharmacist at Glenwood Pharmacy, Patti (Peterson) Darling, and members of her staff will move to the Orofino Shopko, according to the news release.

A company statement about Shopko's arrival with one of its smaller, "Hometown" stores in Orofino Tuesday was the first official confirmation about the retailer.

Information released by Shopko does not say how big the store will be. Orofino businessman Paul Pippenger told the Tribune previously that he's selling the town's former junior high site, at 429 Michigan Ave., to Shopko. The vintage brick building is being dismantled, but so far Pippenger and his wife are still listed as owners at the Clearwater County Assessor's Office.

Not included in the deal is a newer, smaller building on the school campus with a gym and two classrooms. Pippenger said that building is being donated to the community to be used for civic purposes such as church services, sporting events and club meetings.

Shopko envisions a 25,000-square-foot store, Pippenger said. That size would be consistent with the 15,000-square-foot to 35,000-square-foot footprint Shopko uses for its "Hometown" stores.

"We understand that consumers in small towns are looking for the same variety of high quality goods ... that can be found in larger cities," Shopko CEO Peter McMahon said in a news release. "Consumers of our hometown stores tell us they appreciate the vastly improved shopping experience and access to a broad, differentiated selection of merchandise."

Shopko is in the midst of a growth spurt that is focused on "Hometown" stores, which now outnumber the larger versions. The Green Bay, Wis.-based chain has 203 of the smaller stores and 131 of the larger ones, including stores in Lewiston and Pullman. All of Shopko's expansion announcements in the past year have involved "Hometown" stores.

Shopko opened 15 new locations in July. It has plans to accelerate that, opening even more "Hometown" stores in the latter part of this year and into 2016.

A company spokeswoman has declined to say if Shopko has additional plans for any other southeastern Washington or north central Idaho communities. Shopko's geographic footprint includes the Pacific Northwest, the West and the Midwest.

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Williams may be contacted at ewilliam@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2261.