Rite-Aid Closing More Stores in WA — Is Yakima On the List?

Rite-Aid announced its plans on closing more stores across the country including a few here in Washington State.
But what does that means for our Yakima locations or the Rite-Aid locations across the Yakima Valley?

History of Rite-Aid in Yakima

Let's take you all the way back to the early '80s to a store called Giant T.

Giant T was great store found in the Nob Hill Plaza (now Rainier Square). It was where the Ted Brown store is currently.

It was a store I loved as a child as it had anything I needed. Candy, toys, it even had a small electronics sections. To me, it was the perfect one-stop shop. Our family went here often.

Over the years, it changed names.

From Giant T to Thriftway.
From Thriftway to Thrifty.
From Thrify to Pay 'n Save.
From Pay n' Save to Payless.

While it was Payless they finally built the Safeway on 22th and Nob Hill. Once it was built, Payless found itself right next door.

It was at that time, as well, that I started working there.

While I was employed at Payless it was around 1996 or 1997 that Payless announced they were going to become Rite-Aid.

It was a brand I hasn't heard of before as they were primarily on the east coast. All to become one.

My job stayed the same, but I was there when it happened.

Rite-Aid in Yakima

Rite-Aid is still a store I go to when I just need a couple of things. I don't need to go grocery shopping, I just need cold medication, a birthday card and a Coke. Or if I just need to grab a few seasonal items like chocolate and wrapping paper. Rite-Aid is a quick stop for me.

To hear them announce more stores are closing kinda hurts my feelings. But these things happen.

More Rite-Aid Closures in Washington State

Fortunately, with the new list from King5 News, Yakima's locations are not on this list. At least at this time.

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