Rite aid stores across new jersey grappling with empty shelves amid bankruptcy

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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.