Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
As part of another Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, Rite Aid is reportedly closing (or selling) all 184 outposts in New York State, including 81 First Ave. at Fifth Street.
A spokesperson told ABC 7 in Buffalo that "the company is still in the process of selling its stores and assets and all locations will not necessarily close next month. The company says the sale process is fluid, and some stores could be acquired by another company that would allow them to remain open."
Employees at the East Village location learned the news on Monday.
"Your prescriptions will be transferred to a chain pharmacy nearby, probably either CVS or Duane Reade, whichever company buys the prescriptions from us," a store employee told us.
Also, currently: "We may not be able to get stock, so you should think about transferring your prescriptions soon."
As for closing signage, there weren't any as of early yesterday afternoon.
"We just found out, so we haven't made any signs yet, but they should start going up," the employee said. "Rite Aid is closing all up the seaboard, not just here."
Philadelphia-based Rite Aid had been closing stores and struggling with losses for years before its first bankruptcy filing in 2023. The company says its "only viable path forward" is a return to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.The company said in letter to vendors that it has been hit with several financial challenges that have grown more intense. Rite Aid and its competitors have been dealing with tighter profits on their prescriptions, increased theft, court settlements over opioid prescriptions and customers who are drifting to online shopping and discount retailers.
No word on an official closing date.
Back to the AP:
Stores will remain open for now, but the company isn't buying new inventory so bare shelves are likely become more common."I think what we'll progressively see is the stores will become more and more spartan," said retail analyst Neil Saunders.
The shelves at the First Avenue Rite Aid have been mostly barren for over a year, though this store made it through the previous company turmoil.
The one-story First Avenue location sits on a prime East Village corner, and developers would likely pay top dollar for another sliver of luxury housing. However, we're not sure what air rights remain after the construction of the 8-story cantilever condominium next door.
H/T EVG reader Elissa
I used Rite Aid pharmacy on first Avenue for many years and will be sad to see it go. Their pharmacists were always extremely helpful and the customer service was excellent!
ReplyDeleteI wish all of the staff the best of luck and I hope their placed in other jobs easily.
American retail is beginning to mimic 1970's USSR with all the barren shelves and lines of people waiting to purchase the latest cronut or bagel. .... Potatoes and cabbage, anyone?
ReplyDeleteRippers. some of the best customer service I ever received was in a Rite-Aid in Wilkes-Barre, PA
ReplyDeleteAlways treated well by the staff there for my prescriptions. I wish them well.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to see it leave that spot. Hoping the building remains one story...
ReplyDeleteI mean... One story buildings like that stripmall style store aren't really anything we should miss imo. As they said in this post/article, who knows how many feet of air rights remain at this location, but any new housing is better than zero new housing. I just hope it will be something interesting with multiple smaller retail locations (that are more achievable to rent for normal stores) instead of one giant one that will remain empty for years while waiting for a bank to move in.
DeleteWe saw this coming for quite some time with bare shelves since Covid. Many of the things they used to stock before then never came back. I frequently rely on this store, so I hope another pharmacy can take it over.
ReplyDeleteNo-o-o-o-o! I knew it was coming but chose to ignore the bare shelves and hoped for a sudden infusion of cash. PLEASE do not sell the spot to a developer!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe lady who’s always working there at the front counter is a saint - thank you for always being so nice!
ReplyDeleteOn a separate note, the amount of theft and lack of product at this location has been pathetic. It’s a reflection of the weakness on crime in NYC, and turning a blind eye to petty crime. I hope whatever goes in here is not plagued by continuous theft
For all the nimbys, what value does a single story rite aid add to the neighborhood that you wouldn’t want it sold to a developer? All additional density lowers rents, regardless of quality. It has been proven over and over again.
ReplyDeleteIf this were true, rents would have been declining for the last 25 years.
DeleteWhat value does a single story Rite Aid add to the neighborhood? It is the place we get our prescriptions when we are sick, food and snacks when we are hungry, buy birthday cards, find toilet paper when we run out, buy batteries, cleaning supplies, etc., etc. Much more valuable than another "luxury" building for the arrivistes that come to our "cool" neighborhood for a few years and then move back to the suburbs where they belong.
DeleteI will miss it so much being just a few steps away for 25 years! So convenient. So sad. Now the closest one is not very close. A sign of the downward times.
ReplyDeleteShame, that was a convenient location and the pharmacy was fantastic. I've known it as the drug store for nearly 30 years (It was a Sloan grocery store before, and something else before that). There aren't that many great options for pharmacies in the neighborhood, though there are a few private ones.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the air rights, I too am curious what remains considering the luxury building next door clearly bought some of them to cantilever their building, not to mention, I assume they'd want to protect all the views out the massive glass wall of apartments facing north.
The people working in the pharmacy at this store have always been so incredibly kind and thoughtful. I truly wish them the best on their next place. Truly so so kind
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the context is similar in any ways or completely different, but another one story former Rite Aid at Grand & Clinton is about to be reborn as a Lidl. I think limited remaining air rights are a factor there too.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Lidl, so had to look it up. It sounds like that would be a good fit in this location as well.
DeleteIt's already been said, but the pharmacists are the best.
ReplyDeleteWill definitely miss the nice lady at the register and the security guard. I hope the mural stays.
ReplyDeleteI used to live around the corner in the early 2000s and this was my mainstay. I could even get like 24 pack of coors for like 12 bucks. I happened to walk by couple of days ago and remarked that it was great to still see it standing. Alas I spoke too soon. RIP!
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:18 AMEN!! I moved to Yorkville in 2003 and to the EV in 2007... in those Yorkville years Rite Aid's Coors pricing saved our empty pockets and set us up for downtown nights. Perfect throwback friend
DeleteThis really sucks. They had great, inexpensive items. Good service. So, now we just have CVS at Astor or Duane Reade on Ave B as our only options? I shudder to think what or whom will replace this beloved spot.
ReplyDeleteFor actual pharmacy services nearby, there's East Village Prescription Ctr at Ave A & 3rd St; and Block at 2nd Ave & 6th St. Obv not the same scope of stuff like chips & ice cream, but avoiding DR/Walgreens & CVS feels like not ranking Cuomo & Adams in the upcoming primary.
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DeleteWow. I shopped there from 2000-2023. Sorry to see it go.
ReplyDeleteAldi supermarket has the lowest prices would make perfect sense for this spot
ReplyDeleteThis location was so convenient for all my and my family's needs. This is truly heartbreaking to hear. Very devastated to hear this...
ReplyDeleteExcellent reporting once again Grieve. Photos, references, background context, commentary. Thanks for keeping us in the know.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. Most likely they'll tear the whole building down and put up more ugly apartment building made of Tyvek, mirrored glass and sheetrock. That place has been there forever. I remember it being an A&P store when I was a kid in the early 70s and then a Red Apple (?). Ah, well.
ReplyDeleteI went today to the pharmacist, and Gia was there. I thanked her for all of her services through themany years for her kindness for her getting me healthy and I pointed out that evgrieve.com has done exceptional job in reporting as well as I pointed out so many of us in the East Village have been appreciative of their services throughout the years. She actually teared up because her response was “I’m so glad I was able to make a difference in so many people’s lives” She’s humble she’s appreciative and she’s grateful.
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