By Tom Murphy, Associated Press
Rite Aid customers can expect local stores to close or change ownership in the coming months as the struggling drugstore chain passes another bankruptcy filing.
The company plans to sell customer prescription files, inventory and other assets to close the distribution centre and unload store locations. The store remains open for now, but bare shelves may become more common as the company has not purchased new stock.
“What we gradually see is that stores will become more and more Spartans,” said retail analyst Neil Sanders.
The company operates 1,245 stores in 15 states, according to its website. There are only 347 locations in New York, Pennsylvania and California.
Here’s what customers can expect next:
How long is the store open?
Rite Aid has said months in most stores. All locations will eventually be closed or sold to new owners.
Until then, customers can fill up their prescriptions and get vaccinated and shop in stores and online.
Rite Aid says it will stop issuing customer reward points for its purchases. Also, starting next month, we will not respect gift cards, or accept returns or exchanges.
What will happen to my prescription record?
Rite Aid tries to sell them at a pharmacy to another drug store, grocery store, or retailer. The company says it is working to bring together a “smooth relocation” of customer prescriptions to other pharmacies.
However, there is no guarantee that these files will end up in retailers near where they are closed.
That can be challenging as some Rite Aid Stores are located in rural areas, miles from another pharmacy.
A prescription file can be a valuable asset as it allows the acquired drugstore to connect with regular customers if the person is stuck in a new store.
How did Rite Aid get to this point?
Philadelphia-based ceremonial assistance closed its store in 2023 before its first bankruptcy filing and has been suffering from losses for years. The company states that the “only viable path” is a return to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
The company said in a letter to the vendor it had been hit with several more intense financial challenges.
Rite Aid and its competitors have dealt with tougher profits on prescriptions, increased theft, Opioid prescriptions, and court settlements against customers drifting over online shopping and discount retailers.
With more than six times as many stores as Rite Aid, Walgreens agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in March.
CVS Health is also closing.
The Associated Press School of Health Sciences is supported by the Science and Education Media Group at Howard Hughes Medical Institutions. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Original issue: May 6, 2025, 5:16pm EDT
