Rite Aid leaves Walla Walla

Walla Walla — Rite Aid is closing the Walla Walla location at 2028 E. Isaacs Ave. on Thursday, Jan. 18. A spokesperson for the company said the local pharmacy will transfer customer prescriptions to the Albertsons pharmacy at 450 N. Wilbur Ave.

According to reporting by Reuters, Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy protection on Oct. 15. Under the production, the company will seek to close underperforming stores and sell its pharmacy benefit company Elixir. It will also need to resolve over 1,600 lawsuits alleging that the pharmacy filled illegal or suspicious prescriptions exasperating the opioid crisis.

Rite Aid competitors Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS have agreed to pay over $13 billion to settle similar lawsuits outside of bankruptcy.