What’s Next for Empty Rite Aid Stores? 10 Creative Ideas
- Maya Haptas and Sally J. Guzik
- Sep 18
- 7 min read
Rite Aid’s second bankruptcy has left behind a wave of closures across the country. Competitors purchased prescription files from more than 800 stores, but in nearly all of those cases, the physical buildings were not part of the sale. Prescriptions moved, but the storefronts closed. On top of that, about 200 stores had no prescription buyer at all. That figure only reflects the pharmacy records, not the buildings themselves. In reality, hundreds of former Rite Aid buildings are now vacant or at risk of long-term vacancy unless communities step in with new plans.
To check a specific store closure and prescription transfer, Rite Aid offers a lookup tool: Pharmacy Closure and Transfer List.
These empty buildings are situated on prominent corners and along busy streets. They already have parking lots, utilities, and access that make them valuable. Left vacant, they risk dragging down entire retail corridors. But with some creative thinking, they can become new anchors for community life.
A Quick Reality Check
The country does not need another wave of Spirit Halloween stores popping up in every empty box. They are quick and easy fillers, but draping fake cobwebs over real vacancies is not a development strategy.
On Reddit, the debate has already started. Some neighbors hope for a grocery store. Others brace for years of shuttered windows and empty parking lots. Both reactions reveal the same truth: people care deeply about what happens to these spaces. The choice is whether we let vacancy become the default or push for something that adds lasting value.
Where Closures Concentrate
The closures are spread across the country, with the highest numbers concentrated in five states: California, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, and New Jersey. These states combine dense urban corridors with small towns and suburban strips, showing that the challenge is not confined to one type of community. The pattern is clear, whether in a city block or along a highway in a rural county, the question is the same: What do we do with the box that Rite Aid left behind?
What’s Already Happening?
In Pittsburgh, PA, news was recently announced of a grocery store going into the former Rite Aid site at the prominent corner of Murray and Forbes in the Squirrel Hill commercial district of Pittsburgh. The kosher-based store, Murray’s, will offer local produce, baked goods, and prepared meals.
In Michigan, as documented in this blog post by Jason Miller, a commercial real estate developer in the state, several former Rite Aid stores have already been repurposed into ethnic groceries serving Greek, Albanian, Iraqi, Pakistani, Brazilian, and other communities.
In Ohio, Buckeye PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) was launched by One Senior Care, opening in three former Rite Aid locations in Youngstown, Ashtabula, and Warren. The objective of PACE programs nationwide is to provide medical and health services to seniors at a single location, enabling them to age in place in their homes.
Understanding Zoning First
Most of these buildings are zoned for commercial use, which allows for retail, food, and various services to be established immediately. Child care facilities, community centers, libraries, and indoor recreation centers often require conditional use permits or rezoning. Cities that adapt quickly can repurpose these properties for productive use more quickly.
Ten Ideas for Repurposing Empty Rite Aid Buildings
Community and Resource Centers
A former pharmacy can be adapted into a hub for residents. The large open floor allows for classrooms, meeting rooms, and flexible activity spaces. These centers could host after-school tutoring programs, senior exercise classes, or community dinners. They provide a safe and reliable space where people of all ages can connect and interact.
Zoning note: Some commercial codes prohibit community or civic uses without a conditional use permit. A rezoning or variance may be required.
Food Halls or Shared Kitchens
Many of these sites already have plumbing, utilities, and open layouts that can be converted into food preparation areas. A food hall could house several small restaurants, coffee stands, or dessert vendors. A shared commercial kitchen could serve food trucks, bakers, and caterers who need affordable space to expand their operations. This type of reuse supports small businesses and draws customers who want variety in one location.
Zoning note: Food service is usually permitted in commercial districts, so rezoning is rarely needed.
Roller Skating and Arcades
The floor space of a former Rite Aid can be resurfaced into a skating rink or divided into arcade rooms. Families often have limited safe and affordable entertainment options nearby. Birthday party packages, teen nights, and after-school drop-ins could make this a steady revenue source while also keeping young people engaged in something positive and productive. These facilities also create employment opportunities for residents.
Pittsburgh’s Roller Sk8 Connection held pop-up roller skating events at a temporary rink installed inside a former Shop N’ Save in Pittsburgh’s Hill District before the space was turned into Salem’s Grocery.
Zoning note: Indoor recreation sometimes requires a special use permit if not explicitly listed in the commercial zoning code.
Child Care Centers
Child care is one of the most urgent needs in most communities. These buildings already have bathrooms, parking, and central access, which makes them easier to adapt. With renovations such as classroom partitions, safety upgrades, and outdoor play areas, they could become licensed centers that support working families. This not only meets a demand but also helps attract and keep employers who struggle when workers cannot find care for their children.
Call-out: The Community Building Children’s Center offers full-day child care for children aged 12 months through 5 years, and was an intentional part of The Community Building development; priority is given to that building’s tenants. Located in downtown Spokane, WA, the business district has become an extension of the care center, making Main Street a new kind of playground. If child care centers open in former Rite Aid locations, Main Street and Business District Managers could help coordinate with local business owners and employees to ensure their childcare is located in the same district as their business, promoting walkability and easing transportation burdens.
Zoning note: Child care often requires a conditional use permit or rezoning, since it is treated separately from retail.
Healthcare Centers or Clinics
Although the pharmacies are closed, the need for accessible health services remains. These buildings can be repurposed into urgent care clinics, dental offices, physical therapy centers, or behavioral health practices. Their locations on main roads make them easily accessible for patients, and they can help alleviate pressure on hospitals by providing routine care in the community.
Zoning note: Medical offices and clinics are usually permitted in commercial districts, so rezoning is often not required.
Recovery and Wellness Hubs
In communities struggling with addiction and health challenges, an empty store can be reimagined as a recovery and wellness hub. These centers can offer group support rooms, yoga or fitness classes, non-alcoholic cafés, and weekend farmers markets. This sends a powerful message that wellness belongs in everyday spaces, not hidden away. These centers can partner with nonprofits and local health systems to deliver meaningful impact.
Zoning note: Depending on how the center is defined, local codes may require a conditional use permit. Municipalities that are flexible will be able to respond more quickly.
Farmers Markets and Local Retail
The parking lots attached to many of these buildings make them natural sites for outdoor markets. Inside, stalls could be created for vendors to sell produce, crafts, and locally made goods year-round. This strengthens the local food economy and gives small businesses a visible, affordable space. Markets also attract steady foot traffic that benefits surrounding businesses.
Zoning note: Retail uses are typically allowed in commercial districts. Outdoor markets may require temporary permits.
Maker Spaces and Small Business Incubators
Former pharmacies can become spaces where residents build skills, test new businesses, and share equipment. A maker space might include woodworking tools, sewing machines, or 3D printers. An incubator could provide micro-storefronts, offices, or flexible work areas. These uses make entrepreneurship visible and accessible, keeping the building active.
Call-out: In 2022, The Discovery Space in State College, PA, launched The Rivet, a 5,000 sf makerspace with 3-D printers, manufacturing machines, computers, hand tools, and art supplies, and the tagline “All you need are closed-toe shoes and an open mind!”
Zoning note: If light manufacturing is involved, a rezoning may be necessary. For office and shared workspaces, rezoning is usually not required.
Public Libraries or Learning Labs
Some communities have outgrown their libraries but cannot afford new construction. An empty pharmacy could be repurposed into a branch library or digital learning lab. Imagine shelves of books, rows of computers, and rooms for workshops or tutoring. This type of reuse improves access to education and technology for residents of all ages.
Zoning note: Libraries are often considered civic uses and may require rezoning or a conditional use permit.
Indoor Recreation and Sports Facilities
These buildings are large enough for gyms, pickleball courts, indoor soccer, or climbing walls. Recreation facilities can bring families, teens, and adults into one space for active play. They support health, attract tournaments or leagues, and fill a void where communities lack indoor recreation options. The steady traffic also benefits nearby retail and food businesses.
Zoning note: Indoor sports and recreation may require special approval if not listed as a permitted use in commercial zones.
Moving Fast Matters
Every month, these sites sit empty, making it harder to bring them back to life. Local governments can streamline zoning approvals. Economic developers can convene property owners, nonprofits, and potential operators to test ideas. Communities should not see a failed pharmacy. They should see a ready-made space that can meet urgent needs.
Fourth Economy’s Perspective
At Fourth Economy, we work with communities across the country to turn vacant properties into real assets. These former Rite Aid buildings are not just empty boxes. There are opportunities to solve problems residents already face every day: lack of child care, limited wellness space, few options for family activities, and not enough room for entrepreneurs to grow.
The question is not whether these sites will be filled, but how quickly and how creatively. With the right partners, they can shift from abandoned storefronts to anchors that serve everyday needs.
If your community is staring at a dark Rite Aid, let’s talk about what comes next. Share your ideas or start a conversation with us at [email protected].
