US Drugstore Retailer Rite Aid Closes Its Last Stores

Rite Aid storefront

The prominent American drugstore retailer Rite Aid has confirmed the shutdown of all its remaining locations.

On Saturday, the company's website was replaced with a announcement confirming: "Every Rite Aid locations have now closed. We thank our dedicated patrons for their long-standing of support." The site also provided a option for patrons to obtain their pharmacy records.

Founded in 1962, the firm was once one of the largest drugstore chains in the country. In its heyday, Rite Aid counted around 5,000 locations.

However in recent years, the company encountered monetary difficulties and a Justice Department investigation. As of last Friday less than 100 locations remained.

Rite Aid had filed for Chapter 11 in late 2023 and again in mid-2025.

The company also faced legal troubles over its involvement in the prescription painkiller crisis. In 2022, Rite Aid paid as much as $30 million to settle legal claims claiming it contributed to the flow of opioids in the United States.

In the subsequent year, in its 2023 filing, the firm stated that restructuring would help it "settle litigation disputes."

Rite Aid also encountered a Justice Department lawsuit in which authorities alleged the firm's locations filled illegal orders for oxycodone and fentanyl. The company reached a resolution in mid-2024.

Other American drugstore retailers have also been shutting down retail locations across the United States, though different reasons have been mentioned.

Since 2021, CVS has shut down more than 1,000 stores as part of a longer term initiative.

In a similar vein, Walgreens, which was recently purchased by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, closed 500 stores over the past year.

Experts have expressed concerns about expanding "pharmacy deserts" in the US, where a large number of residents reside lacking a pharmacy nearby and must commute to have medications filled.

Nathan Huynh
Nathan Huynh

A passionate writer and cultural analyst with a background in international relations, sharing unique insights on global affairs.