Posted on 06/10/2025 6:15:37 AM PDT by thecodont
Rite Aid, the embattled Pennsylvania-headquartered drugstore chain of 1,240 stores nationwide, recently filed bankruptcy for the second time since October 2023. Last month, the company announced that it would be shutting down more than 300 locations, including dozens of stores in California.
For Californians, the Rite Aid name — and the impending store closures — comes with an entirely different set of memories. It could mean the end of an era that dates back nearly a century to the origins of Thrifty, the LA-based drug store and soda fountain.
For many, the best reason to visit a Rite Aid is Thrifty Ice Cream. Ahead of the closures, the fate of the beloved ice cream brand is uncertain.
“I’ll be 75 this year, so 65-plus years,” said Rob from Atascadero, who declined to give his surname. Rob recalled his lifetime love affair with Thrifty Ice Cream while enjoying a scoop in front of the ice cream counter at the Los Osos Rite Aid, set to close June 30, on Sunday afternoon. He said he’d stopped in for a few items and, of course, to seek out his favorite ice cream one last time.
His search has extended across San Luis Obispo County as the individual Rite Aids in the region continue to roll out their closure dates.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I stopped at the local Rite Aid yesterday, my pharmacy for 20+ years, and found this note on the drive-thru window:
“Closing permanently on Monday, June 23rd. All prescriptions, unless otherwise arranged for, will be transferred to CVS, on Edgewood Rd”.
“I stopped at the local Rite Aid yesterday,” — York, PA.
We had a Thrifty Drug Store half a block from our house (Before Rite Aid bought them). In the evenings in the summer the ice cream counter was backed up. People would go for a walk and stop in for a scoop.
There is a Rite Aid around me that looks pathetic. Two thirds of the shelves in the store are empty - literally. It was built as one of those “big box” stores that was going to sell food, toys and other useless junk rather than just drugs and health-related products. Now its empty. I like the people who work there but there is no doubt it will be closed within a month or two.
Isn’t California’s tax base disappearing too?
Yeah when I was a kid Thrifty’ ice ream was awesome, a nickel for a good sized scoop, now a days it’s over priced and no better than store brands. I doubt that brand has won an award in decades and will be missed by few if disappears.
As George Putnam used to say “That’s one man’s opinion”.
I stopped at one in Hershey, Pa the other day
Pharmacy deserts incoming.
All the Rite Aid drug stores in Tennessee shut down years ago.
I agree. That's one reporter's opinion.
Question: When trump says he is going to cut out the ‘middleman’ in the prescription drug market to lower prices, is he talking about drug stores like Walgreens and Rite Aid?
Rite Aid and Walgreens tried to merge back in 2016 or so. The Govt would not allow it. Now Both are bankrupt.
They became diversified.
I believe there are wholesalers that buy drugs from the actual manufacturers and distribute them to pharmacies.
They may contract with foreign manufacturers fro generic forms of non patent drugs. Typically made in India.
New drugs are patented by the maker. For example, when Pfizer discovered Viagara it was patented and only they could sell it for seven years. They probably made it in their own production facilities in the USA/PR. When the patent expires then anyone can make and sell the drug.
Then they start making it in some place like India or China.
Rite Aid and Walgreens tried to merge back in 2016 or so. The Govt would not allow it. Now Both are bankrupt.
Walgreens wiki page is a bit thin of info on its current situation, but there is no refernce that they have ever filed for bankruptcy.
They have been closing underperforming stores, etc. My local Walgreens was on an early list that was retracted.
The store’s major problem is that it is not as large as the other stoes in the area. It sits alone almost as an afterthought. No local promotion, etc.
In our area, you can usually get Thrifty Ice Cream at the numerous Water & Ice stores sprinkled amongst the strip malls. Its a nice place to get a quick ice cream cone if you get tired of vanilla from McDonalds and other fast food places, or don’t want to go broke going to Dairy Queen or other specialty ice cream store.
Thrifty’s ice cream, which happens to be my favorite - is still available at Ralphs. Checked two days ago and they have a large selection (pistachio is best).
I remember as a kid, each scoop was $.05 and the scoop was rectangular.
That ice cream won a lot of blue ribbons at the county fair.
In my town, there is a beautiful terrazzo slab on the sidewalk in the downtown area with “Thrifty’s” on it - Thrifty’s was long gone by the time we moved in 30 years ago, but I well remember Thrifty’s as a kid.
Now there is a Goodwill store on the site.
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