Another drugstore chain closing after over 130 years
The popular pharmacy retail chain's historic name will go away.
Retail hasn't exactly been a picturesque rose garden in recent years.
While it may be largely recovering after a rough half decade, there are still a few corners of the market that continue to sputter.
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Many stores along Main Street sit vacant, since interest rates remain high and foot traffic remains lower on average.
Indoor shopping malls across the U.S. look more like ghost towns than glimmering examples of capitalism.
And many convenience stores, hardware shops, and pharmacies will tell you that the good times have come and gone.
This may be a bit of an overstatement.
There are still plenty of good times to be had for retailers that have adapted to shifting consumer trends.
Amazon, for instance, continues to edge out local pharmacies with its online medical offerings. It now offers prescriptions, supplements, and even clinical access via its app.
And many Walmarts offer pharmacies and eye center services.
But neither of these have been smooth entries to the health care and pharmaceutical business.
And pure-play drugstores would tell you the same. Image source: Shutterstock
Many pharmacies are suffering
Both CVS (CVS) and Walgreens, for instance, have encountered their fair share of trouble.
CVS has been in the process of closing down about 270 stores that are underperforming. And Walgreens is currently going private as it attempts to right the ship.
An over-expansion, a troublesome bet on VillageMD, and a rise in retail theft have all contributed to its ensuing troubles.
More closings:
- Popular local Dairy Queen rival suddenly closing, no bankruptcy
- Another big Mexican chain closing down restaurant, no bankruptcy
- UPS suddenly closing more stores amid chaotic new change, layoffs
- Popular fast-food burger chain closes all restaurants in key area
Not to mention, customers just shop differently nowadays.
While in the 2010s many of us might have stopped at a brick-and-mortar pharmacy for travel supplies, personal care products, and supplements, most of us skip the trip and get our stuff online now.
That's partly why Rite Aid, the once-iconic drugstore popular in New York and New England, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing down hundreds of stores.
Historic drugstore name going away
The Rite Aid meltdown has had ripple effects felt throughout the U.S. pharmacy space.
Rite Aid, which filed for its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy in as many years in May 2025, is currently in the process of closing stores or selling off its assets to peer brands.
As a part of the bankruptcy process, Rite Aid will shutter over 1,000 stores and sell off its store fleet to other pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger.
This process is time-consuming and complicated, though, since Rite Aid owns brands that will be affected by its closure.
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One such brand is Bartell Drugs, the historic drugstore based out of Washington, which was purchased by Rite Aid in 2020.
Since Rite Aid's bankruptcy, Bartell's fate has been in the hands of other pharmacies.
And now, CVS has announced it will sunset the Bartell Drugs name and rebrand the approximately 20 remaining pharmacies to become CVS locations instead.
CVS said that while the Bartell name will go away, it will work to preserve the local flavor.
“We know Bartell Drugs has been a much-loved brand in Washington, and we’re planning to continue to offer many of the local products their customers have grown to know and love,” CVS said in a statement.
Bartell Drugs was founded in 1890.
