Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
According to multiple published reports, Rite Aid plans to close 92 stores nationwide in 2024 as the chain continues to work through a bankruptcy proceeding.
Since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October, Rite Aid has been grappling with its financial woes, which have led to the closure of numerous locations. However, the East Village outpost on First Avenue at Fifth Street has managed to escape the hit list.
Here's more about why the company has struggled via Forbes:
Multiple factors contributed to Rite Aid's bankruptcy. It was larded with debt and faced more than a thousand opioid-related lawsuits. Yet its business has been deteriorating for years as it struggled to compete against larger companies like CVS, Amazon, Walgreens...
During a recent visit, I saw barren shelves throughout the store. Management here told me they are having a "tough time getting any product or supply right now." When I asked if they were closing, I was told, "Right now, we're OK, but we really don't know."
On another stop-by, staff said that the company is saving money by not stocking shelves; they only restock or receive supplies once a week. They also said that, for now, the store is safe and not closing. They did not rule out a closure in the future, but no one's heard anything.
They said that if the store were to close, the patrons/pharmacy clients would be informed immediately.
Here's a look at the store... where even the COVID-era lockdown shelves were barren...
The First Avenue location has a special place in our hearts because of its Headless Santa.
The one-story First Avenue location also sits on a prime East Village corner, and developers would likely pay top dollar for another sliver of luxury housing.
28 comments:
I was there a couple of days ago and it was weird. Shelves devoid of product but also an official merchandiser who was setting up items on shelves and complaining that he had let people know to be ready but there was not enough space in the area he was working on to put products.
This store will be gone soon. There used to be trucks there constantly unloading merchandise, now there's rarely any deliveries.
Interestingly, the luxury building that cantilevers on top of the Rite-Aid is using some of it's air rights, so anything built here now would have to work around the cantilevered building.
I used to purchase liquid laundry detergent at this Rite Aid for years because there were always good sales. I visited a couple of weeks ago and there was not one container available even behind locked plexiglass, which is odd because a plethora of brands and sizes were always available. Not even fabric softener was present. I asked one of the salespeople when to expect a new shipment, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't know. Beats the shit out of me." Very weird. Now it makes sense after reading this post.
The Soviet Union had better stocked shelves, and that was in the 1980's.
This has been going on for months but it's getting ridiculous. You won't find laundry detergent or many cleaning supplies there. You're lucky if there's toilet paper or paper towels. They do seem to get a few things restocked regularly, but the weekly truck delivery is not happening.
I wonder how much of the air rights were sold, over the whole building or just that notch where the new building is?
It’s disappointing to think this location may close. Although I don’t shop here I do fill all of my prescriptions at this location. It would be a shame to have them close. I too have noticed their lack of supplies and empty shelves wondering how long this location will remain open.
A lot of Rite Aid’s closed in my area also. I heard Walgreens bought them out.
This is indicative of the Rite Aid in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. Barren shelves and no new supplies.
They’ve been really annoying about this.. because nobody is going to go there when there is nothing on the shelves. I stopped going a month or so ago because they wouldn’t explain why the shelves were empty, it was annoying to go and never have what I need.
I've been going to there since 2009, particularly for the pharmacy and even though I've moved 5 blocks further north. The pharmacy folks are super nice. It would be shame to see it go.
This is so sad. All the people who work there are super nice and work hard. If you stand in there for more than 15 minutes, you'll hear neighborhood people catching up with the workers. For a chain, it has the old neighborhood vibe in there. I hope they don't close. I'll miss them!
Agree with others that the pharmacy is nice there, and that's the real loss.
Same! This was my $4.99 TIDE weekly special. So sad. Some employees from the Grand/Clinton St Rite Aid have relocated when it closed. End of an era.
That store is on life support. Without adequate merchandise, a skeleton crew, and no plans to replenish empty stock, what is the point in keeping this location open? Too bad!
Used to shop there all the time. They stopped carrying the brands I wanted so I stopped going in. I'd still like to see them in the neighborhood.
I just had a thought. Bear with me. If they did close, perhaps this location could be a Shake Shack. Just a thought.
When the shoplifters outnumber the paying customers you know you're in bad shape.
Inventory at the CVS on Houston and Orchard isn't looking too great, either.
The excellent pharmacy at this location would be a real loss. The only place in town that can fill my tricky prescription correctly and on time. CVS and Walgreens both provide horrible pharmacy service in this area. I will be looking for a local small business pharmacy if this closes.
It will be a huge loss to this neighborhood if they close that location. It's one of the true neighborhood stores remaining in the neighborhood even though it's a part of a chain. The people who work there are terrific and I try and make whatever purchases I need there and am sure to go on line and provide them with a great review.
I recently joined Capsule pharmacy where your medications are mailed to your door at no cost. Insurance covers it. If this Rite Aid pharmacy does close; it might be something to consider if you are ill or elderly or just don’t have a lot of time.
If you’re looking for a local pharmacy I recommend Avalon Chemists on Second Ave at East First St. It’s not open 24-7, but Calvin the owner is terrific — hardworking, conscientious and communicative.
Frequent shopper at this location, and noticed some of my go-to products started to disappear and not get restocked. When I asked, they mentioned that they’re not ordering more inventory. On the flip side, they have some great deals right now for rewards members - I wonder if it’s in an effort to clean shop? Additionally, it’s disappointing how much crime occurs in this shop. There are constantly sketchy characters robbing the store. If they want to shut it down, I don’t blame them, can’t imagine how much they’ve lost in inventory. Pathetic that this is a reality that we have accepted as a society
East Village Prescription Center on Ave A and 3rd Street is another small local pharmacy. I get mine filled there pretty quickly and have never had any issues with them!
"Pathetic that this is a reality that we have accepted as a society"
Quite true. And it's not getting better. Petty crime, shoplifting and farebeating have become normalized. Body cams in Dept stores. Panic buttons in bodegas. Uncontrolled mentally ill wander the streets. Dumbed down people take their dumbed down queues from dumbed down politicians. Don't be surprised at who wins the electoral vote in November.
An over-worked pharmacy staff that was often rude or disrespectful, an absolutely generic collection of the must mundane goods, and now no longer 24 hours. Hard to imagine a business more devoid of style, or imagination, or customization for its location. Seriously, with Mom & Pop pharmacies still in the neighborhood that do not also sell hairspray and corn flakes, how much will Rite-Aid be missed?
This is sad; I've always preferred Rite Aid to Duane Reade and gone out of my way to patronize them.
That said, I've had my prescriptions sent to Avenue A Prescription Center for years.
Post a Comment