My MIL is a pharm.tech. at one in the midwest. They're basically coast-to-coast now, and they're not the only big chain... CVS has been spreading from the east, RiteAid or some name like that is big.

Walgreen's doesn't need to compete with Long's, really. They can probably survive off the traffic from tourists from back east who see "Long's" and say "huh?" but see "Walgreen's" and say "Ah, a familiar name."