Rite Aid Shuts Down After 63 Years, Closing All Remaining Stores Across the U.S.
After more than six decades in operation, Rite Aid, once one of America’s largest pharmacy chains, has closed its final 89 stores, officially bringing an end to its 63-year history.
“All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support,” the company said in a statement on its website, which now only provides access for former customers to retrieve pharmaceutical records or locate nearby pharmacies for prescription transfers.
The closure follows Rite Aid’s second bankruptcy filing in less than two years, marking the end of a long struggle with mounting debt, fierce competition, and costly legal challenges. The company initially filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, citing liabilities exceeding $4 billion, largely tied to lawsuits over the alleged unlawful filling of opioid prescriptions.
Founded in 1962, Rite Aid grew into a nationwide chain recognized for its affordable healthcare services and its popular Thrifty Ice Cream, which developed a loyal following over the years. The ice cream brand was among the assets sold off as part of the company’s bankruptcy proceedings.
After emerging from bankruptcy in September 2024, Rite Aid attempted a comeback by cutting $2 billion in debt, securing $2.5 billion in new financing, and shuttering around 500 locations. However, by May 2025, the chain still operated roughly 1,250 stores – less than half of its footprint from the previous year.
In a final attempt to stay afloat, the company sold most of its pharmacy operations to competitors CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger, collectively transferring more than 1,000 store locations.
The closures come amid broader upheaval in the U.S. retail pharmacy sector. CVS previously announced plans to close 900 stores by 2024 as part of a digital and healthcare pivot, while Walgreens said last year that roughly a quarter of its stores were unprofitable, with plans to shut down 1,200 locations.
Rite Aid’s disappearance marks another casualty in a shifting pharmacy landscape where corporate consolidation, online prescription services, and reduced foot traffic have reshaped how Americans access medications – particularly impacting older adults and rural communities, who often rely on nearby pharmacies for care.
