Pharmacy Chain Planning Mass Layoffs In NJ

NEW JERSEY — Rite Aid will lay off more than 1,100 New Jersey employees in the coming months as the company files for bankruptcy, closes stores and attempts to sell its assets.

According to a WARN notice filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Rite Aid will lay off 1,122 people at unspecified locations throughout the state.

The layoffs are expected to begin on June 4, according to the notice.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act is a federal law designed to protect workers, their families and communities. It requires employers to provide notice 60 days before a business closing or mass layoff.

The pharmacy chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, its second in as many years. While the company initially said all stores would remain open as it attempts to sell its assets, court documents filed Tuesday identified dozens of stores slated for closure.

The first New Jersey locations to close are:

• 75 South Main St., Neptune
• 403 Sicklerville Rd., Sicklerville

Rite Aid has 60 remaining stores in New Jersey, including the two slated for closure. It's unclear if any additional locations will be shuttered.

• RELATED: Rite Aid Begins Closing Stores Amid Bankruptcy, Including 2 In NJ

Last year, the chain closed 36 stores in New Jersey as part of its restructuring plan.

Additionally, a flyer from A&G Real Estate Partners indicates that nearly all of Rite Aid's 1,240 stores will be listed for sale. The flyer reportedly lists 1,187 retail leases and 50 fee-owned properties across 15 states.

Rite Aid said customers can continue to access pharmacy services and products in stores and online, including prescriptions and immunizations. In connection with the sale process and court-supervised proceedings, the company said it is working to facilitate a smooth transfer of customer prescriptions to other pharmacies. Rite Aid has eight million pharmacy customers.

However, Rite Aid Rewards points are no longer being issued, and existing points and bonus cash will also expire per the terms and conditions.

Rite Aid will also no longer honor gift cards or accept any returns or exchanges beginning June 5.
Rite-Aid is the nation's third-largest pharmacy chain behind CVS and Walgreens. All three have suffered financial difficulties and shuttered hundreds of stores in recent years.

Rite-Aid operated about 2,000 pharmacies as recently as 2023 but now has only about 1,240 stores as it enters its second bankruptcy.

Patch editor Eric Heyl contributed to this report.