Huge pharmacy chain confirms 39 more locations to close across eight states with warning signs already in windows

A MAJOR pharmacy chain has continued its retail bloodbath as another 39 store shutdowns have been announced.

Rite Aid confirmed the upcoming closures as the company works through its bankruptcy proceedings.

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The pharmacy chain, which has over 1,700 stores across the country, shared that eight states would be affected by the upcoming location shutterings.

Certain stores in California, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia would leave their retail spots soon.

The city of Philadelphia will lose five locations alone in these plans.

Some of these 39 stores have already started to indicate their fate to shoppers.

Customers were met with “store closing” and sale signs in the windows.

The retailer explained the decision to make so many closures, according to SILive.com.

“Rite Aid regularly assesses its retail footprint to ensure we are operating efficiently while meeting the needs of our customers, communities, associates and overall business,” Rite Aid said.

The retailer suggested these closures could be down to financial reasons.

“In connection with the court-supervised process, we notified the Court of certain underperforming stores we are closing to further reduce rent expense and strengthen overall financial performance,” Rite Aid said.

“At this time, we have not made or confirmed any decisions on additional specific store closures as part of our financial restructuring process.”

One of the affected stores with a closing sale and signs is on Richmond Avenue in Staten Island, New York City.

A spokesperson confirmed that the locations would close on May 19, according to SILive.com.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023 after months of speculation.

Hundreds of locations have already been shut as the chain had 2,100 spots before its bankruptcy proceedings in 2023.

The U.S. Sun has previously reported how these stores’ closures could prove difficult for some customers.

Officials in New York state attempted to stop one of the chain’s pharmacies from closing due to fears a medication desert would be created.

Lawmakers had tried to halt the closure of a branch in Buffalo.

The next pharmacy closest to the one on Bailey Avenue would have been a 25-minute walk, so officials stepped in.

The state’s Attorney General, Letitia James, filed an objection with the state bankruptcy court to stop the closure.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Rite Aid for comment.