ROCHESTER, NY The Rite Aid on Portland Avenue is scheduled to close May 10th. That’s less than a week away.
The company said the decision was made after considering a “variety of factors” including business conditions and business performance.
As you drive by you will realize that the store has been through a lot. The front doors are boarded up with plywood, and neighbors told News10NBC that many shelves are often empty.
“It’s sad because we have to go further out now,” said a family from the neighborhood. “And this is our favorite Rite Aid. We have to go to Family Dollar now.”
“I’m shocked but not surprised,” said shopper Sherman Dickerson. “I guess they couldn’t survive the shoplifting. When you walk around the store, all the shelves are empty. The shoplifters come in, they know they can’t be touched. The poor shop cannot survive.”
It’s a neighborhood staple, according to Rochester Mayor Malik Evans.
“We know from the foot traffic that’s going on there that we don’t think it was a wise decision,” Evans said of the closure. “There’s a lot, a lot of traffic.”
Evans said it was particularly disappointing news because the city has been working with pharmacies to help them stay open and thrive.
“We’ve tried to be proactive with these deals to get them to stay in our community,” Evans said.
City records show multiple thefts at the store in March. Rochester Police told News10NBC someone tried to break in and smash the glass in the doors overnight in early March.
Rochester City Councilor Jose Peo said the closure was a bigger problem.
“If we don’t address the issues on these streets and hold people accountable for their actions, stealing from this place, walking in with suitcases, walking out with tons of produce, we will continue to see divestments,” he said.
As for the suspect who tried to break in a month ago? RPD said he received tickets but did not appear in court. He currently has an active warrant for the burglary and four other unrelated crimes.
Eriketa cost: “So how can we meet the needs of the community? If it is poverty, whatever it is?”
Jose Peo: “So the thing is, I grew up poor, but it was never okay to steal. Just because I was poor doesn’t mean I take from others. People need to understand that there is right and wrong, and if you do something wrong there must be consequences for your actions.”
There is a Family Dollar near the Rite Aid on Portland Ave. Many neighbors have said they will go there. The closest pharmacy options appear to be Rite Aid on North Clinton Avenue or Walgreens on Culver Road. That would be about a 6 or 7 minute drive for this neighborhood. For hikers that would be over 25 minutes.
North Clinton Avenue Business Association President Albert Algarin said he was concerned that the Rite Aid in North Clinton could be shut down. He said he’s heard from Rite Aid officials that it’s possible, but the company hasn’t confirmed it.
News10NBC reached out to Rite Aid to see if crime was a factor in the Portland Ave closure, but has received no response.
See Rite Aid’s full statement below:
“Like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and the business as a whole. We take the decision to close a store very seriously and it is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rental considerations, local business conditions and store profitability and performance. We screen every neighborhood to ensure our customers have access to healthcare services, whether it’s at Rite Aid or a nearby pharmacy, and we’re working to seamlessly transfer their prescriptions so there’s no disruption in service. We also strive to relocate employees to other Rite Aid locations whenever possible.”
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