You've probably driven past a Rite Aid on Pulaski Highway lately and noticed things look a little different. Maybe the shelves are sparse. Or perhaps the "Store Closing" signs are already taped to the sliding glass doors, flickering in that specific way fluorescent lights do when a building is losing its pulse. It’s a weird time for retail in Maryland. Specifically, the stretch of Route 40—Pulaski Highway—that cuts through Baltimore, Rosedale, and Joppa has become a bit of a microcosm for the larger corporate drama swallowing one of America’s most recognizable pharmacy chains.
Basically, if you’re looking for the Rite Aid Pulaski Highway locations, you’re looking at a map that is shrinking in real-time.
The Reality of the Rite Aid Bankruptcy on Route 40
It isn't just "business as usual." Rite Aid Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2023, and the ripples are still hitting the pavement in 2025 and 2026. This wasn't some sudden accident. It was a slow-motion car crash involving massive debt, falling sales, and, most significantly, a mountain of lawsuits related to opioid prescriptions.
When a company goes through Chapter 11, they look for "underperforming" assets. On Pulaski Highway, "underperforming" is a relative term. You might have loved your pharmacist there, but if the lease was too high or the foot traffic didn't justify the overhead, it went on the chopping block.
Take the location at 5616 Pulaski Highway in Baltimore. It’s been a staple for people in the city's northeast corridor for ages. But as the company trimmed the fat, many of these spots were evaluated based on their proximity to other stores. If there’s a Walgreens or a CVS two blocks away, or even another Rite Aid a few miles down Route 40, the corporate bean counters see redundancy. They don't see your convenience; they see a line item that needs to disappear.
Why Location Matters on the Pulaski Highway Corridor
Route 40 is a beast of a road. It’s not like a cozy downtown street where people stroll in. It’s high-speed. It’s commuter-heavy. For a Rite Aid Pulaski Highway store to survive, it needs that "right-hand turn" advantage.
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Think about the drive. If you’re heading home toward White Marsh or Edgewood, you want a pharmacy that’s on your side of the road. You aren't going to cross three lanes of Pulaski Highway traffic at 5:00 PM to pick up a gallon of milk and some Allegra. The stores that survived the first few rounds of closures usually had the best "ingress and egress"—fancy talk for "it’s easy to get in and out of the parking lot."
But even the best location can't save a store if the parent company can't pay its bills. Rite Aid’s debt reached billions. Honestly, it's a miracle some of these spots stayed open as long as they did. They were competing against the massive scale of Walgreens and the vertical integration of CVS (who owns Aetna, by the way). Rite Aid was the "scrappy" middle child that just couldn't keep up with the grocery store pharmacies like Wegmans or Safeway either.
The Pharmacist Shortage and Your Prescription
If you still have a prescription at a Rite Aid Pulaski Highway location, you've probably noticed the wait times. It’s not just you.
There is a massive, industry-wide shortage of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. People are burnt out. They’re tired of the "metrics-driven" environment where they have to fill a certain number of scripts per hour while also giving flu shots and answering phones. At the Pulaski Highway stores, this crunch is felt even harder. When one store closes, its files are often transferred to the nearest surviving Rite Aid.
Suddenly, a pharmacy that was already busy is now handling the volume of two stores. It’s a mess.
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- Your "15-minute" wait becomes an hour.
- The drive-thru line wraps around the building and blocks traffic on the service road.
- Your insurance suddenly doesn't "see" the refill because the system transfer hit a snag.
It's frustrating. Kinda makes you want to switch to a local independent pharmacy, doesn't it? But then you remember that most independent pharmacies aren't open until 9:00 PM on a Tuesday.
What Happens to the Empty Buildings?
This is the part that bums people out. An empty Rite Aid is a massive eyesore. They are usually "big box" enough that they aren't easily converted into a coffee shop or a boutique. On Pulaski Highway, we’ve seen these spaces sit empty for months, or even years.
Sometimes they become "Dollar" stores. Sometimes they turn into those "Urgent Care" centers that seem to be popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm. Occasionally, they get split up into smaller retail units. But for the most part, an empty Rite Aid Pulaski Highway location represents a gap in the community's access to healthcare. For some people living in the neighborhoods branching off Route 40, that pharmacy was the only place within walking distance to get basic medicine or even fresh-ish groceries.
Navigating the Closures: A Practical Checklist
If you are a regular at any Rite Aid along the Pulaski Highway stretch, you need to be proactive. Don't wait for the "Closed" sign to appear.
- Check your refills today. If you have a "maintenance" med—something for blood pressure or cholesterol—make sure you have a 90-day supply.
- Identify your backup. Look at the nearest CVS or Walgreens. Call them. Ask if they accept your insurance. Not all pharmacies are in-network for every plan.
- Download your records. Use the Rite Aid app while it still works for your location. Get a digital copy of your prescription history. If the store shuts down and the files move, things sometimes get lost in the digital shuffle.
- Talk to your pharmacist. These folks usually know a closure is coming before the general public does. Just ask: "Hey, is this location staying put for a while?" Their face will usually tell you everything you need to know even if they aren't allowed to say it.
The Future of Retail Pharmacy in Maryland
Is the Rite Aid Pulaski Highway era over? Not entirely, but it’s definitely in its "legacy" phase. The company is trying to emerge from bankruptcy as a smaller, leaner version of itself. This might mean fewer stores, but hopefully, the ones that remain will be better stocked and better staffed.
But honestly? The "corner drugstore" model is dying. Between Amazon Pharmacy, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, and mail-order options from insurance companies, the physical pharmacy is becoming a secondary option for many. Pulaski Highway is just the latest place where this shift is becoming visible.
If you’re driving down 40 and see those yellow and blue signs, appreciate them while they’re there. The retail landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and the convenience we took for granted for decades is being recalculated by algorithms and bankruptcy lawyers.
Actionable Insights for Local Residents
If your local Rite Aid Pulaski Highway store is currently liquidating or has recently closed, you should take the following steps immediately:
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- Verify your Prescription Transfer: Usually, Rite Aid will automatically transfer your files to a nearby Walgreens. However, you are not obligated to stay there. Call the new pharmacy to ensure they have your correct insurance info on file before you show up to the counter.
- Check the Rewards Balance: If you have "BonusCash" on your Rite Aid account, use it now. Once a store closes and the company restructured, those loyalty points can become difficult to redeem or might disappear entirely.
- Update your Doctor: Your physician’s office likely has your "preferred pharmacy" saved in their EMR (Electronic Medical Record). If your Pulaski Highway location is gone, you must call your doctor’s office to update this, or your next refill will be sent into a digital void.
- Look for Liquidation Deals: If a store is in its final weeks, you can often find non-prescription items (shampoo, snacks, seasonal decor) at 50% to 75% off. It’s a somber way to shop, but it’s a practical way to save on household essentials.
The reality of the Rite Aid Pulaski Highway situation is a reflection of a changing economy. Stay informed, keep your records handy, and don't assume your local branch will be there forever.