BAY CITY, Mich. (WJRT) – For some communities, the slated Rite Aid stores that are closing have been the only pharmacies for miles. It is creating an impact for many Mid-Michigan residents as well as other pharmacies in the area as this development continues to unfold.
Rite Aid closing more stores in Mid-Michigan during bankruptcy
Signs at many Rite Aid stores read “store closing sale” as the company has already transferred prescriptions to other stores, causing an influx for many small pharmacy businesses, like The Anderson Pharmacy in Bay City.
Six more Rite Aid stores in Mid-Michigan slated to close
“We’ve already been approached by quite a few of the Rite Aid customers looking for a place to go,” said the owner of The Anderson Pharmacy, Steve Kennedy. “This is obviously going to make us a little busier.”
Two weeks ago, Rite Aid announced that dozens of locations in Michigan and Ohio have been added to the growing number of stores it plans to close while it restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The owner of the Anderson Pharmacy said he’s seen many big box stores come and go from the area, as his family-owned business has been operating for 65 years. So, Rite Aid closing wasn’t news, but now what’s next?
“They’ve been having issues over the years,” said Kennedy. “I’m surprised someone, one of the bigger stores, hasn’t purchased them.”
Typically, any prescription files would be sold to a nearby pharmacy, which has been in the works, according to employees ABC 12 spoke with.
Liquidation sales are underway at most of the Rite Aid stores scheduled to go out of business by the end of the month, as The Anderson Pharmacy is hoping more small pharmacy businesses will be a kind of a safety net for Mid-Michigan residents in this community.
“There’s going to be issues, especially in the rural areas where there was only a Rite Aid, that is going to be an issue. I don’t know what is going to happen in those situations. People are going to have to drive or maybe mail orders more.”
ABC 12 has reached out to Rite Aid corporate multiple times for a comment. A response from corporate has not been received.