Rite Aid has officially shut down all of its stores after filing for bankruptcy twice in less than two years.
The pharmacy chain posted a simple message on its website: “All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.” The site also provides former customers access to their pharmacy and immunization records, along with information on where their prescriptions have been transferred.
It’s a stunning end for a company that once dominated the U.S. drugstore market. Founded more than 60 years ago, Rite Aid grew into the nation’s largest drugstore chain by 1987, boasting over 2,000 locations. The company had chances to merge with Walgreens in 2017 and Albertsons in 2018 but walked away from both deals, according to Investopedia.
Rite Aid’s downfall began long before its final collapse. In 2023, the company filed for bankruptcy protection amid mounting debt, declining sales, and fierce competition from retail giants like CVS and Walgreens. It was also facing hundreds of lawsuits tied to its alleged role in the opioid epidemic.
To stay afloat, Rite Aid launched a store optimization plan that included the immediate closure of 154 stores out of its 2,284 locations. But even aggressive downsizing couldn’t reverse its decline.
By the time of its second bankruptcy filing in May 2025, the once-proud chain had been reduced to about 1,245 stores. Now, every one of them is gone — marking the quiet end of a once-iconic American retailer.