Following on the heels of closures in Keene and Peterborough, the Jaffrey Rite Aid Pharmacy is the next to shutter, along with multiple other stores in New Hampshire. The closing is part of a plan to eventually shut down all Rite Aid locations across the country. 

According to a press release issued by the company in May, Rite Aid had entered into sale agreements and transition agreements to help move existing customers to new pharmacy services with operators including CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger and Giant Eagle. 

In addition to the Jaffrey closure, Rite Aid has also announced closures in Allenstown, Claremont, Farmington, Kingston, Manchester, Milford, Pelham, Portmouth, Salem, Somerstworth, Hillsborough, Littleton, Meredith, Newport and Winchester. Including the recent closure announcements, that makes a total of 27 Rite Aid stores set to close or have already shut their doors, including stores in Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Keene, Lee, Lincoln, North Hampton, Peterborough and Pittsfield.

The offloading is part of the national chain’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. As part of the latest court filings in the bankruptcy, the chain had identified more than 700 locations that have been designated for closure since last month. 

Matt Schroeder, the chief executive officer of Rite Aid, said “A key priority for Rite Aid is to ensure that as many of our loyal customers as possible continue to receive the pharmacy services and care they require without interruption. These agreements ensure our pharmacy customers will experience a smooth transition while preserving jobs for some of our valued team members.”

CVS Pharmacy has already reached an agreement to take over Rite Aid locations, as well as Bartell Drug stores in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, but it has not yet been announced if there is any take over plans for New Hampshire stores. Bids for the chain’s assets, including current leases for stores, are due by June 18.

Local residents said that despite the assurance of a continuum of care, they were concerned about losing one of the few remaining local options for a pharmacy.

“I get all my vaccines here. I’m going to really miss it. I’m not sure where I’ll go,” said Linda Dodge of Rindge.

Pat Martin of Rindge attends a weekly climate protest that’s held on the street in front of the Rite Aid, and said she would often shop there, as well as using the pharmacy for all of her medications. 

“I think it’s going to be missed,” said Martin, who said she doesn’t know yet where she’ll be going to fill her pharmacy needs.

Deni Dickler of Rindge said she uses the store for her annual vaccinations, as well as her medications. She said with the shuttering of local pharmacies, she’s afraid of price hikes.

“As Rite Aid moves out, we have to go to one or two places left, and if they increase prices, there’s no competition to force them to come down. I think we’re all going to be paying more, for things that we could have gotten for less if there was more competition,” Dickler said.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.