Troubled Pharmacy Chain To Close 34 More CA Stores

CALIFORNIA — Tens of thousands of Americans may soon need to find a new place to shop or fill prescriptions as their go-to store could be closing down permanently.

As Rite Aid continues its Chapter 11 proceedings, the chain will close 151 additional stores nationwide as it traverses its second bankruptcy, and 34 locations in the Golden State will be among those shuttered.

The latest round of closings was announced in U.S. Bankruptcy Court filings Friday. This filing will bring the total number of closures to 268 across the country.

Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy on May 4 for the second time in less than two years after the previous restructuring lessened the pharmacy chain's debt but still left it on unsound financial footing.

The company listed liabilities in the range of $1 billion to $10 billion in a Chapter 11 petition filed in bankruptcy court.

According to court records obtained by USA TODAY, the chain's owners said they expected auctions for Rite Aid locations to begin this month. All Rite Aid stores will eventually close or be sold to a new owner.

These are the 34 latest California locations that will close, according to a new list:

• 10120 Mason Ave. Chatsworth
• 535 Robinson Ave. San Diego
• 220 East Grand Ave. El Segundo
• 11961 Valley View Street Garden Grove
• 740 Otay Lakes Rd., Chula Vista
• 2300 Harbor Blvd. Suite G Costa Mesa
• 7239 Woodman Ave Van Nuys
• 6639 Watt Avenue North Highlands
• 2555 Main St. Oakley
• 1260 West Capitol Ave. West Sacramento
• 4300 Elverta Road Antelope
• 806 Ramsey St. Banning
• 1660 E 1st St. Beaumont
• 680 South State Street Ukiah
• 575 M St., Crescent City
• 80 Rancho Del Mar Aptos
• 57701 29 Palms Highway Yucca Valley
• 1701 Airline Highway Hollister
• 1730 South Main St. Willits
• 580 Bailey Road Bay Point
• 855 Mono Way Sonora
• 3650 Adams Ave. San Diego
• 490 South Main St. Fort Bragg
• 16642 Soledad Canyon Rd. Canyon Country
• 811 Tucker Road Tehachapi
• 18993 Colima Road Rowland Heights
• 894 Oak Valley Parkway Ste B Beaumont
• 1300 West F St. Oakdale
• 1988 Freedom Boulevard, Freedom
• 8508 Painter Ave. Whittier
• 1317 East Pacheco Blvd, Los Banos
• 3795 West Shields Ave., Fresno
• 8015 Limonite Ave., Riverside
• 9532 Winter Gardens Blvd. Lakeside

These closures come in addition to the 21 previous California locations that were flagged for closure.

SEE ALSO: Pharmacy Chain Closing These 21 CA Stores Amid Bankruptcy

During this process, which could take months, customers will still be able to fill prescriptions, get immunizations and shop in the stores or online. Starting next month, however, Rite Aid has said that it will stop issuing customer rewards points for purchases. It also will no longer honor gift cards or accept returns or exchanges.

The company, which once had a massive footprint across the U.S., now runs 1,245 stores in 15 states, according to its website. It has a heavy presence in New York, Pennsylvania and California, which alone has 347 locations.

While Rite Aid has been in business for more than six decades, customers may have noticed sparsely stocked stores over the last few years as the company has struggled to stay afloat between bankruptcy proceedings. The last time the company filed for Chapter 11 was in 2023.

“While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes in which we operate, we are encouraged by meaningful interest from a number of potential national and regional strategic acquirors," Matt Schroeder, CEO of Rite Aid, said in a statement.

Schroeder says the chain will prioritize a smooth transition for customers moving to other pharmacies.

"As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible," he said.

Rite Aid announced Monday that it has secured $2 billion to keep many locations open for the next few months, while others are sold or shut down permanently.

Neil Saunders, a managing director of GlobalData, told CNN that the chain has been "teetering on the edge of survival for quite some time."