CVS acquires dozens of former rival’s stores following bankruptcy, mass closures

CVS Pharmacy has completed the acquisition of several Rite Aid assets, a move that includes 63 former Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores in the Pacific Northwest and the prescription files from 626 pharmacies across 15 states, including Massachusetts.

The transactions, which followed Rite Aid’s bankruptcy proceedings, mean CVS will now serve more than 9 million former Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs patients.

The company has taken over the operation of the 63 stores located in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

• Read more: Why your local pharmacy might be the next to disappear as Massachusetts has lost nearly 300 since 2010

“We’re excited to have completed the acquisition of select Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the acquisition of prescription files of hundreds of Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs pharmacies across 15 states,” said Len Shankman, executive vice president for CVS Health, in a statement.

“We’re helping maintain and expand access to convenient and trusted pharmacy care across the U.S. and growing our retail footprint and presence in local communities,” Shankman said.

To support the transition, CVS Pharmacy hired more than 3,500 former Rite Aid and Bartell Drug employees.

The company also said it has made investments in existing CVS locations by scheduling more support staff, enhancing recruitment and strengthening training programs.

The sale was approved in May by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

The entire process took about four months, with the final transactions for stores in Oregon and Washington completed on Sept. 30.

• Read more: Popular pharmacy chain closes all stores following bankruptcy

At least three Massachusetts locations were included in the deal, according to Patch.

In an email to Patch, CVS shared that the prescription files were purchased from stores in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and Washington.

A list published online by Rite Aid revealed some prescriptions filled at three Massachusetts stores were transferred to CVS:

• Prescriptions from Rite Aid at 1024 Main St. in Fall River were transferred to CVS at 245 William S. Canning Blvd. in Fall River.
• Prescriptions from Rite Aid at 1207 Achushnet Ave. in New Bedford were transferred to 136 Ashley Blvd. in New Bedford.
• Prescriptions from Rite Aid at 107 Main St. in Greenfield were transferred to CVS at 137 Federal St. in Greenfield.

Generative AI was used to draft this story, based on data provided by CVS Health. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive.