Just as NBC prepares to give itself up to some company from Philadelphia, another New York institution has gotten one step closer to invasion from without with the news that the FTC has given the go-ahead for Walgreens to continue with its purchase of Duane Reade drug stores.

Following the FTC’s decision, Illinois-based Walgreens said it expects to complete the deal by mid-April, giving New Yorkers only a few precious weeks to be scowled at and ignored by Duane Reade staffers (before they become rude, scowling Walgreens employees).

“We’re clear to move forward and complete the Duane Reade acquisition, which will immediately give Walgreens a leading position in the nation’s largest drugstore market,” said Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson. “We look forward to combining the strengths of our two companies to best serve our customers in the New York metropolitan area and the many communities we serve nationwide, while also creating real value for our shareholders.”

Walgreens Receives Regulatory Clearance for Duane Reade Acquisition [MarketWatch]

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