A new year brings with it a new workplace for some familiar faces around the community, including several former employees of the three locally-owned pharmacies recently sold to Walgreens.

Susong Pharmacy, Howard's Pharmacy and Mosheim Pharmacy all closed on Dec. 26, transferring patient files to the two local Walgreens stores, located on the East Andrew Johnson Highway and the Asheville Highway.

Of the six employees for whom Walgreens has maintained employment, two will be at the Asheville Highway location, with the remainder at the Bypass location, according to Manager Tyler Skeens.

"We certainly welcome them," he said in a recent telephone interview. "I look at it as, really, two families joining.

"We're definitely welcoming them as part of our Walgreens family."

All of the employees will begin working in the pharmacy, he added.

Skeens also explained that Wayne Susong is also welcoming his former customers to the new Walgreens locations.

Susong is the former owner of Susong Pharmacy and part-owner, along with George Sydnor, of Howard's Pharmacy and Mosheim Pharmacy.

The owners have expressed an intent to rent the buildings and space where their pharmacies were formerly located.