Rite Aid announces closing date for Penfield store
Update, Oct. 19, 2023: A Rite Aid store at 1567 Penfield Road in Panorama Plaza will close permanently on Nov. 7, a Rite Aid spokesperson said, and provided this statement from the company:
"Like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business. A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors, including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance. For our customers, we make every effort to ensure they have access to health services, whether at another Rite Aid or other nearby pharmacy, and we work to seamlessly transfer their prescriptions so there is no disruption of services. We will also strive to transfer associates to other Rite Aid locations where possible. We will continue to keep our website updated with information about which stores are open.
Additional information can be found at riteaidrestructuring.com."
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Original story, Oct. 18, 2023: Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 15 and plans to close 154 stores across the country — including one in the Rochester market — as it battles slumping sales and a slew of opioid lawsuits.
The store slated to close here is at 1567 Penfield Road in Panorama Plaza, according to court paperwork.
Store closing dates have not been announced.
Most of the targeted locations in New York state are in the New York City metropolitan area; other upstate stores include two in Erie County — one in Cheektowaga and one in Kenmore.
In May, Rite Aid closed its location at 535 Portland Ave. in northeast Rochester, citing among other things, “local business conditions and viability, and store performance.”
One of the largest pharmacy chains in the country, Rite Aid has in recent years struggled to keep up with bigger competitors like CVS and Walgreens as it faces legal hurdles related to accusations that it helped fuel the raging opioid epidemic.
Rumors of Rite Aid’s plans to file for bankruptcy began circulating at the end of August amid the company’s mounting billions of dollars of debt, declining sales and more than a thousand federal, state and local lawsuits claiming it filled thousands of illegal prescriptions for painkillers.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rite Aid announces closing date for Penfield NY store
