ROME, ONEIDA CO. -- Hundreds of Central New York residents face unemployment after a local pharmacy chain has decided to close one of its major warehouses.

The Rite Aid Distribution Center in Rome will be closing its doors by the end of the year. In an interview with CNY Central Tuesday afternoon, a company spokesperson said the decision is part of an ongoing effort to optimize their distribution center network and improve operating efficiency. The company says this is no reflection on the performance of workers in Rome.

388 people work at the Rome site, at the main building and satellite facility. The company says they will have the opportunity to apply for 61 positions available at the Liverpool Distribution Center, if they are eligible.

The building in Rome is 38 years old. The company says its size, condition, and equipment would require significant upgrades to operate efficiently. The Liverpool facility is larger, more modern, and has the ability to take on more business, according to the company.

The jobs will be phased out starting in January, and the center will be fully shut down in July of 2011.