Rite Aid Corp. says its new store at 12222 E. Sprague, in Spokane Valley was designed using the chain's relatively new "Customer World" layout.

The 16,000-square-foot store, at the southwest corner of Sprague Avenue and Pines Road, replaced an older Rite Aid store across the street at 12115 E. Sprague.

The store design, which also is used in Rite Aid's store at 9007 N. Indian Trail, is based on customer's ideas and observations and is intended to improve the shopping experience, says Rite Aid spokesman Eric Harkreader.

"When you walk in Customer World it's a very open feel," Harkreader says. "We cut down on the clutter and displays and really tried to make it a layout you can walk in and find what you are looking for."

When planning the new layout, Rite Aid asked focus groups across the country what they wanted most in a drugstore and pharmacy, and many of their ideas were implemented into the new design, Rite Aid says.

In the new design, the pharmacy is more visible and accessible from the store's entrance. New features include a comfortable waiting area with TVs, lowered ceilings, and a private consultation room for patient counseling, Rite Aid says. Also, the cosmetics and body-care department is more centrally located to appeal to Rite Aid's core female customer, the chain says. An expanded vitamin department and food department are other changes. The store features wider aisles with direct views to each department, it says.

Rite Aid has 139 stores in Washington, but only about 20 were laid out with the Customer World design, says Harkreader.