‘It’s really sad’: Customers prepare for closure of Rite Aid in Ramona – ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV
Farewell to Ramona’s Rite Aid: How Residents are Coping with Closure
Residents of Ramona are sending off their beloved Rite Aid Pharmacy as the store is set to close its doors for good this Thursday. With customers frequenting the store for decades, shopping for drinks, snacks, and magazines, the pharmacy has been a staple of the community for many years. Now, with Rite Aid announcing its filing for bankruptcy protection and its subsequent closure of 500 underperforming stores, what does this mean for customers in the area?
Rite Aid’s Decline and Legal Troubles
Rite Aid’s decision to file for bankruptcy comes amid billions of dollars in debt, along with slumping sales and over 1,000 lawsuits alleging pharmaceutical infringements regarding their pain killer prescriptions.
For Local Customers, A Loss of Familiarity
While the closure of so many locations is causing hardship for the company, it is also causing headwinds for the many customers who have been faithfully shopping at Rite Aid for the past 25 years. Local resident Barbara Eastwood had been using the pharmacy to get injections that she felt particularly comfortable with, and also expressed her sadness for the loss of the household holiday decorations, cards, and other fun items that the shop provided.
What Does the Future Look Like for Rite Aid?
In the meantime, Rite Aid has issued a statement that it has reached an agreement in principle with senior secured noteholders on the terms of a restructuring plan. This new plan is expected to grant the company new opportunities to build back its presence in the industry. In the meantime, however, San Diego County residents must bid farewell to their local Rite Aid location.
Although the closure of Rite Aid is certainly devastating to the many customers and shoppers that have frequented the Ramona location, many are optimistic that the retailer can emerge from bankruptcy as a stronger entity in the coming months and years.