Multiple Bartell Drug Locations Closing in Seattle Area

At least three Bartell locations in the Seattle metropolitan area, adding to the wave of closures that began just over a year ago, reported the Seattle Times. Bartell Drugs stores in Des Moines, White Center and Seattle’s Uptown neighborhood are all impacted.

These three closures bring the total to eight known closed stores out of the 67 Bartell Drugs locations that Rite Aid acquired in 2020. In addition to the Des Moines, White Center and Uptown stores, Rite Aid has closed Bartell locations in downtown Seattle, the Chinatown International District, South Lake Union, Ballard and the University District.

Rite Aid, which bought Bartell for $95 million in 2020, has struggled with market conditions, supply and competition from rivals CVS and Walgreens. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Rite Aid was planning to file for bankruptcy due to its debts and lawsuits.