Rite Aid Store Closures: The Impact on Independent Pharmacies

In July 2025, drugstore giant Rite Aid announced it will permanently close 114 of its 1,200 locations nationwide. This decision follows the company’s second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than two years. The first, in October 2023, was driven by mounting deficits and costly opioid-related lawsuits. Today, Rite Aid faces the same challenges only intensified by competition from retail giants like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco.

The Rise of Pharmacy Deserts

For decades, large drugstore chains like Rite Aid positioned themselves as convenient, reliable alternatives to independent pharmacies, offering broad selections of medications under one roof. However, these closures may contribute to the growth of pharmacy deserts, areas where residents live more than 15 minutes away from a pharmacy.

Already, an estimated 40% of Americans live in pharmacy deserts, and with over 70% of Americans relying on at least one prescription medication, the potential impact on access to care is alarming.

A Unique Opportunity for Independent Pharmacies

While the closures create challenges, they also present an important opportunity for independent pharmacies to step in and fill the gap.

Telepharmacy once an emerging solution, now widely adopted since the COVID-19 pandemic, has become essential for patients living far from traditional pharmacies. By employing a pharmacy technician to manage a telepharmacy under the remote supervision of a licensed pharmacist, independent pharmacies can expand access, improve patient care, and grow revenue.

The Road Ahead

With Rite Aid’s uncertain future and the broader instability of retail drugstore chains, independent pharmacies have a chance to expand their patient base and strengthen community healthcare. Those willing to embrace innovation, especially telepharmacy, can play a critical role in ensuring Americans continue to receive the prescriptions they depend on.

RxBLU Telepharmacy: Expanding Care, Expanding Opportunity

RxBLU Telepharmacy creates new growth opportunities for independent pharmacies by enabling them to serve patients within these pharmacy deserts, helping bridge critical care gaps while unlocking additional revenue streams.

Our platform empowers pharmacies to extend care beyond their four walls, securely connecting patients and providers in ways that are as seamless as in-person service. That means pharmacies can grow their reach, improve access for underserved communities, and strengthen both patient outcomes and profitability.

👉 Visit RxBLU’s Tele-Pharmacy page to see how this service can benefit your community.