Rite Aid, one of America’s oldest pharmacy chains, has officially shut down operations, marking the end of its decades-long presence in neighborhoods across the country. On Oct. 4, visitors to the company’s website were met with a brief message confirming that all remaining stores have permanently closed.
The message stated, “all Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support.” The message also directed former customers to a dedicated link where they can access and request their pharmacy records.
Found in 1962, Rite Aid grew into one of the nation’s biggest drugstore chains, operating nearly 5,000 locations at its height. Rite Aid began as Thrift D Discount Center before rebranding in 1968. Over the following decades, the company grew rapidly through both organic expansion and acquisitions, becoming a familiar presence in American retail and healthcare.
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In the 2000s, Rite Aid pursued aggressive growth by acquiring major regional chains like Eckerd and Brooks Pharmacy, integrating their locations into its network. At its height, the chain operated thousands of stores nationwide, serving as a neighborhood destination for prescriptions, basic healthcare, over-the-counter products, and everyday necessities.
But things started going down the hill. Rite Aid sought bankruptcy twice, first in October 2023 and again in May 2025, as mounting debt and declining sales took their toll. The company was also entangled in legal challenges tied to the nation’s opioid crisis. In 2022, it agreed to pay up to $30 million to settle claims that it played a role in the widespread distribution of opioids across the United States, according to CBS, the BBC’s U.S. partner.
In its 2023 bankruptcy filing, the company stated that the restructuring process was intended to “resolve litigation claims.”
Rite Aid’s second bankruptcy filing in May 2025 put most of the remaining opioid-related lawsuits on hold, including those filed by state and local governments and individual plaintiffs. These cases are now being addressed through the bankruptcy claims process as the company proceeds with its wind-down plan, which continues to undergo court review amid objections from the U.S. Trustee.
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The Justice Department had also accused Rite Aid of filling illegal prescriptions for powerful painkillers such as oxycodone and fentanyl. The company reached a settlement with federal authorities in July 2024.
Several other major U.S. pharmacy chains have been cutting back their store footprints nationwide, though for varying reasons. Since 2021, CVS has shuttered over 1,000 locations as part of a broader effort to streamline operations and adapt to changing consumer habits.
As part of its long-term strategy, CVS has permanently closed more than 1,000 locations since 2021.
Meanwhile, Walgreens, now under the ownership of private equity firm Sycamore Partners, has shuttered 500 locations over the past year. Experts warn that this trend is contributing to expanding “pharmacy deserts” in the U.S., leaving millions of Americans without a nearby pharmacy and forcing them to travel for essential medications.