Rite Aid is closing two additional stores in the Newark area next month.
A court document reported that a location on South Main Street (formerly Elkton Road) will close. Also closing next month is a location on Capitol Trail just west of Newark.
Rite Aid is currently in bankruptcy proceedings in New Jersey. The Chapter 11 filing gives the drug store chain more flexibility in closing stores and re-negotiating leases.
Rite Aid had earlier closed stores in Bear and in the Brookside area south of Newark. Rite Aid still has three stores in Bear-Glasgow.
In addition, Walgreens closed a store on Main Street in Newark
The company has been dealing with long-running financial problems. The sale of Rite Aid to the owner of Acme and Safeway fell through at one point, with Walgreens picking up some locations.
Delaware was not directly affected by the sales since selling store locations would have presented antitrust problems.
Rite Aid is also dealing with litigation over the sale of opioids, with states claiming that sales by drug store chains exceeded the amount of opioids needed for legitimate use in pain relief.
There has also been a nationwide shortage of pharmacists that sometimes led some chains to close pharmacies on weekends or limit hours.
The most recent Rite Aid closings were first reported by the Newark Post.
Nationwide, drug store closings have led to public health concerns, especially for people who may live in “deserts” lacking public transportation or delivery services.
Delaware has seen more independent pharmacies open in recent years.
