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Closed Rite Aid store with bankruptcy notice on shuttered doors.
UPDATED Selective US

Rite Aid Closes All U.S. Pharmacies After Second Bankruptcy

Rite Aid shuts all 1,240 stores nationwide

Rite Aid closed all remaining stores on October 5, 2025, ending 63 years of operations after filing for bankruptcy twice in two years.

  • Rite Aid closed all 1,240 U.S. stores nationwide
  • Final stores shuttered on October 5 this week
  • Company filed second bankruptcy in May two thousand
  • Total liabilities exceeded two point five billion dollars
  • Opioid settlements reached thirty million by twenty twenty-five
  • Prescription files transferred to CVS Walgreens other chains
  • Thrifty Ice Cream brand sold for nineteen million
  • Customers access records through official Rite Aid website

Rite Aid closed all 1,240 pharmacy locations across the United States on October 5, 2025, following the company’s second bankruptcy filing in less than two years. The closures mark the end of a 63-year retail presence and leave customers across 15 states scrambling to transfer prescriptions to competing pharmacy chains.

Second Bankruptcy Filing Leads to Complete Shutdown

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2025, just eight months after emerging from its first bankruptcy in September 2024. The company cited total liabilities exceeding $2.5 billion at the time of filing. Court documents show Rite Aid secured $1.94 billion in new financing from existing lenders, but ultimately decided to liquidate all remaining assets rather than continue operations.[1][2]

The pharmacy chain operated approximately 1,275 stores and three distribution centers when it filed for bankruptcy in May 2025. By early October, fewer than 100 locations remained open before final closure on October 5.[3][4]

Rite Aid faced more than 1,000 federal, state, and local lawsuits alleging improper prescription practices for opioids. The Justice Department filed a civil complaint in March 2023 accusing the company of violating the False Claims Act and Controlled Substances Act by unlawfully filling prescriptions for oxycodone, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines.[5][6]

Opioid litigation settlements reached approximately $30 million by 2025. The company reached a settlement with the Justice Department in July 2024 addressing these violations.[4][7]

Prescription Transfer Process for Customers

Rite Aid directed affected customers to its official website to access prescription and immunization records. Most prescription files were transferred to CVS, Walgreens, and other regional pharmacy chains as part of court-approved asset sales.[8][9]

Customers can trace where specific prescriptions were transferred through the company’s online closure and transfer list. The website allows former customers to request complete pharmacy histories for their records.[8]

Steps for Former Rite Aid Customers

  1. Visit the Rite Aid website to request prescription and immunization history
  2. Check the pharmacy closure list to identify receiving pharmacies
  3. Contact the new pharmacy location to confirm prescription transfer completion
  4. Verify medication refill schedules and insurance coverage at the new location

Asset Sales and Brand Liquidation

Rite Aid sold its iconic Thrifty Ice Cream brand to Hilrod Holdings for $19.2 million as part of bankruptcy proceedings. Hilrod Holdings is owned by Monster Energy CEO Hilton Schlosberg and former co-CEO Rodney Sacks. The sale was approved by a federal bankruptcy judge in early July 2025.[10][11]

CVS, Walgreens, and other chains acquired approximately 1,000 Rite Aid store locations since the May bankruptcy filing. Additional buyers included Albertsons, Kroger, and Giant Eagle. Dollar Tree acquired some unexpired leases for future expansion.[3][12]

Industry Consolidation and Market Impact

Rite Aid’s complete closure reflects broader consolidation trends in U.S. pharmacy retail. CVS has closed more than 1,000 locations since 2021 as part of strategic restructuring efforts. Walgreens, recently acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, shuttered approximately 500 stores in the past year.[4][13]

Industry analysts warn that widespread pharmacy closures create significant healthcare access gaps in underserved communities. Independent pharmacies are expected to absorb displaced Rite Aid customers, though capacity constraints may limit availability in rural areas.[3][14]

Changing Pharmacy Business Models

Major pharmacy chains are shifting focus from traditional retail operations to integrated healthcare services. CVS, Walgreens, and competitors are investing in telehealth platforms, prescription home delivery programs, and in-store health clinics. These models aim to reduce real estate costs while maintaining customer access to pharmacy services.[4][13]

Read More: Rite Aid pharmacy chain closes its last remaining stores

Community Healthcare Access Concerns

The elimination of 1,240 Rite Aid locations has left considerable gaps in community pharmacy access. Cities such as Buffalo, New York, and other regions with limited pharmacy alternatives face particular challenges as residents lose convenient access to prescription medications and immunization services.[14][15]

Customers in 15 states who relied on Rite Aid as their primary pharmacy must now identify alternative providers. Many face longer travel distances or unfamiliar pharmacy systems as they transition prescriptions and medication histories.[2][4]

Rachel Patel

Rachel Patel

Senior News Editor

US Business

Rachel Patel is a senior news editor and journalist specializing in political journalism and digital media. With over seven years of professional experience, she is recognized for her accuracy, source verification, and audience-focused reporting approach. Rachel earned her M.S. in Journalism & Media Studies from Stanford University (2018), where she developed expertise in media ethics, political communication, and digital storytelling. Her career has centered on bridging traditional political reporting with the fast-paced world of online journalism. She has contributed to major global media outlets, analyzing how digital platforms — from YouTube and Reddit to TikTok and Bluesky — shape political narratives, influence public opinion, and redefine news consumption. Now based in Berlin, Germany, Rachel serves as a Senior News Editor at Faharas NET, leading coverage on digital politics, media literacy, and social communication trends in the modern information landscape.

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Michael Brown

Michael Brown

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Mr. Michael Brown is an IoT architect based in Austin, Texas, USA, specializing in IoT systems, sensor networks, and IoT security. He earned his Ph.D. in Internet of Things from the University of Texas in 2017 and has seven years of professional experience designing and implementing IoT architectures. At FaharasNET, Michael leads projects on IoT system integration, sensor network optimization, and device management, while contributing to research publications in the IoT field. His work focuses on creating secure, efficient, and scalable IoT solutions.

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Howayda Sayed

Howayda Sayed

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Howayda Sayed is the Managing Editor of the Arabic, English, and multilingual sections at Faharas. She leads editorial supervision, review, and quality assurance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to translation and editorial standards. With 5 years of translation experience and a background in journalism, she holds a Bachelor of Laws and has studied public and private law in Arabic, English, and French.

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Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Michael Brown
New internal links were added to the content.
— by Howayda Sayed
  1. Completely rewritten article with latest facts as of October 11, 2025
  2. Updated all store counts to reflect final 1,240 locations and October 5 closure date
  3. Revised bankruptcy timeline to include May 2025 second filing and court approval details
  4. Corrected opioid settlement figures to $30 million based on current litigation records
  5. Added Thrifty Ice Cream brand sale information for $19.2 million in October 2025
  6. Expanded customer guidance section with prescription transfer details and resources
  7. Included industry consolidation data for CVS and Walgreens closures since 2021
  8. Added community healthcare access impact analysis with specific city examples
  9. Updated all secondary sources to verified publications dated October 4-6, 2025
  10. Rewrote entire article structure with BLUF opening and optimized H2/H3 headings
— by Howayda Sayed
Added secondary related sources for stronger context.
— by Howayda Sayed
Changed and refined the article title for clarity.
— by Howayda Sayed
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Howayda Sayed
  1. Corrected total store count from approximately 1,250 to exact figure of 1,240 locations
  2. Updated final closure date from unspecified to October 5, 2025
  3. Revised remaining stores before closure from unspecified to fewer than 100 locations
  4. Corrected opioid settlement amount from $7.5 million to $30 million total by 2025
  5. Updated bankruptcy financing from $2.5 billion exit financing to $1.94 billion new financing
  6. Added specific Justice Department settlement date of July 2024
  7. Included Thrifty Ice Cream brand sale for $19.2 million in October 2025
  8. Corrected CVS closure figure from roughly 1,000 to over 1,000 since 2021
  9. Added Walgreens closure figure of 500 stores in past year
  10. Updated customer guidance with specific prescription transfer portal information

FAQ

Why did all Rite Aid stores close permanently?

Rite Aid closed all stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy twice in less than two years. The company faced over $2.5 billion in liabilities, extensive opioid litigation settlements totaling up to $30 million, and intense competition from CVS and Walgreens.

How can former Rite Aid customers access their prescription records?

Customers can visit the official Rite Aid website to request prescription and immunization history. The site provides a transfer list showing which prescriptions were moved to specific pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. Customers should then contact the receiving pharmacy to confirm transfer completion.

What happened to the Thrifty Ice Cream brand after Rite Aid closed?

Rite Aid sold its Thrifty Ice Cream brand to Hilrod Holdings for $19.2 million in October 2025 as part of bankruptcy asset liquidation proceedings. This sale occurred alongside the transfer of prescription files from over 600 locations to CVS and other competing pharmacy chains.