CVS, a bigfoot in the retail pharmacy business, is beginning its move in the St. Louis area.

For now, the Rhode Island-based company isn’t saying how soon it will fully launch its move or how big it will be. But company spokesman Mike DeAngelis said today CVS has a long-range plan for St. Louis and isn’t shy about putting stores next to those of the industry’s other bigfoot: Walgreens.

CVS is said to be eyeing numerous locations in the Missouri portion of the metro area. The chain already has eight Metro East locations and a small store in downtown St. Louis. With 6,200 stores in more than 40 states, CVS isn’t in the habit of holding back when it decides to challenge Walgreens.

Locations in Creve Coeur and Des Peres are among those said to be getting a look from CVS. DeAngelis says the company doesn’t announce new store locations much in advance. All the company says so far is that it will open a store next year on Manchester in Ellisville, another on South Lindbergh near the South County Shopping Center and a third at Gravois and Hampton in the city. A Walgreen’s is already located at that intersection.

“We’re all looking for similar things in locations that are visible and accessible,” DeAngelis said. “We don’t open stores just for the sake of opening them.”