Bartell was believed to be the nation's oldest existing family-owned drugstore chain[2] until it was sold to Rite Aid in 2020.

[4] The company underwent contraction over the next few years, with only 12 remaining drug stores in 1961, under the founder's grandson George D. Bartell.

In 1966, seventy-six years after the company was founded, a 13th drug store was opened outside of King County in Edmonds, Washington.

Former REI executive Brian Unmacht became the first non-family member CEO in the company's history in April 2015,[6] with Jean Bartell Barber, serving as Vice Chairman and Treasurer.

[8] Amazon contracted with Bartell Drugs to be the first drugstore to use same-day Prime Now delivery for its non-pharmecudical goods.

[16][17] A sixth Seattle store in Lower Queen Anne, the chain's only 24-hour pharmacy in the city, closed in September 2023.

[22] In December 2004 Harvey Danger, an alternative rock band from Seattle, released the EP Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes), which mentions Bartell Drugs in the second verse.