Pharmacy Chain To Close 200 Stores Across U.S.

UNITED STATES — 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 bankruptcy proceedings, more than 200 of its stores are set to close.

Court documents, which initially revealed that the chain would be closing 47 stores, were updated last week to include 68 stores across seven states. Another update, which came last Friday, included another 95 closures, KGW reported.

As of May 21, here's how many stores Rite Aid is expected to eventually close in each state, according to KGW: 26 in California, three in Connecticut, one in Delaware, three in Maryland, one in Massachusetts, five in New Hampshire, two in New Jersey, seven in New York, 17 in Oregon, 128 in Pennsylvania, 10 in Virginia and 8 in Washington.

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.

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 prioritise 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."