TOMS RIVER, NJ – If shopping at Rite in New Jersey feels like shopping in a third-world socialist nation lately, it’s not you. It’s real. The company is in trouble and it shows inside the store. On a recent visit to to the Rite Aid on Route 70 in Toms River, it became apparent that the company is having serious issues.
If you’ve been wandering the aisles of a Rite Aid in New Jersey recently and wondering why it feels like you’re shopping in a post-apocalyptic movie set, you’re not alone. Across the state, Rite Aid stores have been dealing with bare shelves and a lack of inventory that has left customers scratching their heads—and sometimes leaving empty-handed.
So, what’s going on? The answer lies in a perfect storm of financial woes and operational struggles.
Bankruptcy Blues
Rite Aid has been struggling financially for years, but things took a turn for the worse when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2023. This bankruptcy filing was a result of mounting debts, slowing sales, and a barrage of lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. The bankruptcy has forced Rite Aid to make some tough decisions, including closing hundreds of stores across the country—many of them in New Jersey.
In an effort to stay afloat, Rite Aid has been closing stores left and right. These closures aren’t just happening overnight—they often involve a drawn-out liquidation process where stores stop receiving new inventory long before they shut their doors. This results in those eerie empty shelves you’ve been seeing. In New Jersey alone, over 40 stores have already closed, with more closures on the horizon.
Supply Chain Struggles
Even for the stores that are still open, keeping shelves stocked has been a challenge. The company has been struggling to manage its supply chain amid the financial turmoil, leading to sporadic restocking of products. Some stores report seeing new inventory only sporadically, which has made it tough to maintain consistent product availability.
Competition and Consolidation
Rite Aid isn’t just battling its own internal issues—it’s also up against stiff competition from CVS and Walgreens, both of which have far more resources and a larger footprint. Walgreens even acquired a significant number of Rite Aid locations back in 2018, which only added to Rite Aid’s struggles. With so many choices available, customers may not wait around for Rite Aid to get its act together, potentially driving more business to its competitors.
Rite Aid’s bare shelves in New Jersey are a symptom of much deeper issues within the company.
From financial instability and store closures to supply chain disruptions, the once-ubiquitous pharmacy chain is fighting an uphill battle. Whether or not Rite Aid can bounce back from this remains to be seen, but for now, if you’re heading to a Rite Aid in New Jersey, you might want to temper your expectations—and maybe bring a backup plan for where to shop.
