Image Courtesy of Rite Aid
78 Rite Aid Locations Have Transferred Prescriptions to Grocer Giant Eagle. Is a Location Near You on the List?
June 5, 2025
In a strategic move that signals both expansion and adaptation in the face of industry disruption, Giant Eagle has announced it will assume pharmacy prescriptions from 78 Rite Aid stores that are closing across Pennsylvania and Ohio. This news comes as Rite Aid works through its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in less than two years, underscoring the volatile state of the U.S. pharmacy retail sector.
Rite Aid Bankruptcy Leads to Major Store Closures
Last month, Rite Aid received court approval to sell the majority of its pharmacy assets — more than 1,000 store locations — to a mix of national competitors and grocery chains. Among the top buyers are CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger, and Giant Eagle.
The fallout from this restructuring is massive. With approximately 1,240 stores still operating in the U.S. — a steep decline from nearly 2,400 in early 2023 — the chain is shedding locations rapidly. Experts estimate another 10% of stores could shut down entirely.
The company’s financial troubles stem from a combination of factors, including legal liabilities related to opioid prescription practices, a decline in in-store foot traffic, and reduced margins due to lower reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers.
Giant Eagle Steps In: What Customers Need To Know
Giant Eagle, a regional supermarket chain with a strong presence in the Midwest, will absorb the prescription records of 78 closing Rite Aid locations. The transition is scheduled to begin this month, pending regulatory approval, and is expected to be seamless for customers.
Mike Chappell, Giant Eagle’s senior vice president of pharmacy, said there will be no need for customers to call or have their doctors resend prescriptions. “The data transfers happen overnight. Rite Aid will continue to serve customers until that last day of business. That next day, all of the information will show up [for Giant Eagle],” he explained.
Chappell emphasized that customers will be able to fill their prescriptions at any Giant Eagle pharmacy location, giving them flexibility even if their closest Rite Aid location is closing.
First Wave of Rite Aid Closures Revealed
Among the first wave of 30 Rite Aid stores whose prescriptions will transfer to Giant Eagle are:
- Bridgeville, PA
- Charleroi, PA
- Forest Hills, PA
- Irwin, PA
- McKees Rocks, PA
- Monongahela, PA
- Monroeville, PA
- North Huntingdon, PA
- Oakmont, PA
- Pittsburgh (Shadyside), PA
- Rostraver, PA
- West Mifflin, PA
- Whitehall, PA
While the complete list of all 78 locations has yet to be made public, Giant Eagle has committed to proactively contacting affected customers to guide them through the transition.
2 Rite Aid Locations To Become Giant Eagle Pharmacies Overnight
In addition to absorbing prescription records, Giant Eagle will immediately assume operational control of two Rite Aid locations and convert them into full-fledged Giant Eagle pharmacies, per TribLive. These stores will close one day and reopen the next under the Giant Eagle brand, with no gap in service.
Although the specific addresses of these two stores haven’t been revealed, they will follow the model of Giant Eagle’s existing standalone pharmacies in towns like Edinboro and Greenville, Pennsylvania.
A Potential Lifeline for Displaced Rite Aid Employees
As Rite Aid continues to sell or shutter its remaining stores, employees are bracing for layoffs. However, Giant Eagle may offer a path forward for some. The grocer has been in discussions with Rite Aid’s human resources department to onboard displaced workers.
The potential hiring of hundreds of Rite Aid staff members could soften the blow to local economies and provide continuity for long-time customers familiar with their local pharmacists.
Competitors Move in on Rite Aid Turf
While Giant Eagle is making strategic moves in Pennsylvania and Ohio, CVS is expanding its footprint in the western United States. The country’s leading pharmacy chain is poised to acquire 625 locations across 15 states, as well as 64 locations in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
As CEO Matt Schroeder told the New York Post, “These agreements ensure our pharmacy customers will experience a smooth transition while preserving jobs for some of our valued team members.”
What Happens Next?
Giant Eagle’s acquisition marks a significant step in the company’s growth while offering some stability amid Rite Aid’s continued unraveling. The supermarket chain has built a reputation for trusted pharmacy services and is now leveraging that strength to increase its market share.
For customers in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the most immediate concern is whether their local store is one of the 78 closing. While the initial list includes several towns in western Pennsylvania, additional waves are expected in the coming weeks.
If your local Rite Aid is affected, expect direct communication from Giant Eagle — and rest assured that, according to Chappell, your prescriptions will be ready and waiting, without any disruption.
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