Rite Aid has identified six additional New Hampshire stores slated for closure as the financially struggling pharmacy chain continues to reduce its retail footprint nationwide. The latest closures will affect locations in Hillsborough, Jaffrey, Littleton, Meredith, Newport, and Winchester, according to federal bankruptcy court filings.
These newly announced closures bring the total number of Rite Aid locations designated for closure in New Hampshire to 14. Previously identified stores are located in Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Keene, Lee, Lincoln, North Hampton, Peterborough, and Pittsfield.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May of the previous year and is seeking buyers for its remaining assets, including store leases, as part of its operational wind-down.
Concerns are mounting regarding the impact of these closures on residents in rural communities who depend on Rite Aid for prescription fulfillment and other pharmacy services. Mid-State Health, a federally qualified community health center based in Plymouth, has noted that patients in Bristol and Lincoln already face limited pharmacy options. The center is advising customers to make alternative arrangements before their local Rite Aid closes.
"I think that is going to have a dramatic negative impact" in Bristol, Bob MacLeod, CEO of Mid-State Health, told the New Hampshire Union Leader. He explained that residents may have to travel further south to areas like Tilton or back to the Plymouth area for their pharmaceutical needs.
Mid-State Health is exploring the possibility of adding in-house pharmacy services at its Bristol and Lincoln health centers to help mitigate the loss of local Rite Aid stores. MacLeod cautioned that access to medications is becoming an increasingly significant challenge in parts of rural New Hampshire, even in communities like Plymouth where alternatives such as CVS, Hannaford, and Walmart exist, alongside Mid-State’s own pharmacy services.
Rite Aid has stated that customers will continue to receive pharmacy services without interruption throughout the bankruptcy process. "A key priority for Rite Aid is to ensure that as many of our loyal customers as possible continue to receive the pharmacy services and care they require without interruption," CEO Matt Schroeder said in a statement.
The company previously emerged from a Chapter 11 restructuring in 2024 but sought bankruptcy protection again last year due to ongoing financial difficulties. Many Rite Aid stores currently exhibit sparsely stocked shelves as inventory dwindles during the wind-down period.