American Pharmacy Chain Rite Aid Shuts Down Its Remaining Locations
The well-known American pharmacy retailer Rite Aid has declared the shutdown of its last locations.
On Saturday, the firm's online portal was replaced with a announcement indicating: "Every Rite Aid stores have currently closed. We appreciate our loyal patrons for their long-standing of support." The site also included a option for patrons to obtain their prescription files.
Established in 1962, the firm was once one of the largest drugstore retailers in the country. At its peak, Rite Aid operated approximately 5,000 stores.
However in the past few years, the chain encountered monetary difficulties and a Justice Department probe. As of last Friday fewer than 100 stores were still open.
Rite Aid had filed for Chapter 11 in October 2023 and again in May 2025.
The firm also faced legal issues over its involvement in the opioid epidemic. In 2022, Rite Aid paid up to $30 million to resolve legal claims claiming it fueled the spread of painkillers in the United States.
A year later, in its 2023 submission, the firm stated that reorganization would help it "resolve litigation disputes."
Rite Aid also encountered a Justice Department complaint in which officials alleged the firm's stores processed unlawful orders for powerful painkillers. The company agreed to settle in July 2024.
Additional American drugstore chains have also been shutting down retail locations throughout the United States, though various reasons have been cited.
Over the past few years, CVS has shut down over 1,000 stores as part of a broader initiative.
In a similar vein, Walgreens, which was recently purchased by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, closed 500 locations over the past year.
Industry observers have expressed concerns about expanding "drugstore deserts" in the United States, where millions of people reside without a pharmacy close by and must travel to get medications filled.
