Rite Aid at 46-12 Greenpoint Avenue is slated to close April 25 (Photo: Nina Sityar)
April 7, 2022 By Christian Murray
The Rite Aid store in the heart of Sunnyside will be closing later this month.
Employees at the 46-12 Greenpoint Ave. store were notified Wednesday that it will shutter on April 25 and were stunned.
“I’m really upset,” said one employee, a Woodside resident who has been a pharmacy technician at the store for 36 years. “It’s very disheartening that after all these years they give us just two weeks notice.”
The employee said that she has yet to hear from Rite Aid’s human resources department as to whether she will be offered a job elsewhere or will be terminated from the company. She said that the employees at the store are not hopeful since Rite Aid has been closing many stores.
The Rite Aid on Greenpoint Avenue serves a large number of residents, the employee said, with the store taking up nearly half the block. She said that many people will be shocked when they hear the news.
The Queens Post was unable to reach Rite Aid’s corporate office for comment.
The employee said that it was a toss-up between the Greenpoint Avenue store and the store on 50-12 Roosevelt Ave. as to which would close. She said that the Greenpoint Avenue store is “union” and the Roosevelt Avenue store nonunion.
She anticipates that people’s prescriptions will be transferred to the Roosevelt Avenue store, although she was not certain. She believes that about 30 people are employed at the Greenpoint store.
Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, who also just learned of Rite Aid’s plans to shut the store, said the planned closure represents a big loss to the Sunnyside community.
“This business is central to the neighborhood, and vital to our seniors who rely on the nearness of the pharmacy for access to their medication,” Nolan said in a statement. “Not only is this a blow to the residents of the area, but to the unionized staff of this Rite Aid location, who were given quite short notice of the closure.”
“It is my understanding that a number of Rite Aid locations which have been slated to close happen to be unionized, and I will be contacting 1199, community leaders, and partners in government to discuss this trend and the needs of the community as a result of this plan,” Nolan added.
78 Comments
I remember when this location was a Genovese. I am shocked about this closing. A loss for the community.
I moved to Woodside Queens in 1962 from Greenwich Village to be close to my sister and since then I went to what used to be Genovese then Rite-Aid that’s 60 years I’m Eighty-Four years old and I’m going to miss it I’m going to have to walk to Roosevelt Avenue which will be a hassle for me and I’m going to miss Mike the druggist from Greenpoint Avenue who is not going to go over to Roosevelt Avenue but hopefully Hank Emery and Chrissy will they were always very very helpful I wish them all luck
There’s no such thing as being “placed” in a shelter. She doesn’t want to go to a shelter, she doesn’t have a job or any money; that’s why she’s on the street. It’s a shame she can’t get some kind of job & stay in some sort of budget accommodation. I suspect she somewhat enjoys her freedom but I’m not sure she’s approaching her condition rationally.
Try reading articles. There is no she in this story.
Turning it into condos
Will the rite aide 50 street store at least have delivery for our seniors here left high and dry in Sunnyside!?
Yes, they will have delivery service. It was not the intent to leave customers high and dry at all.
I’m in shock our Rite Aide on Greenpoint Ave is closing before month ends!! not to mention in such short notice to employees! the honorable friendly pharmacists staff yes of decades given such short notice, he will be dearly missed and hopefully repositioned to the 50 street store? Very inconvenient for we seniors who find it difficult to walk without pain in Sunnyside ! All this due to union issues; America is no longer what it was ????we will miss our Rite Aide and the staff ❣️ who always supported Sunnyside.
I know this is off topic but are there any updates on that homeless woman Lele? I noticed she disappeared like 2 weeks ago. I’m hoping she was placed in a shelter – can anyone confirm?
Unfortunately she was not placed in a shelter, she is still living on the streets. I noticed her on Northern Blvd and 42nd St near the Food Bazaar. Its a very desolate area for her to be in, especially during the night.
She’s under the LIRR overpass on 43d St. Go say to her.
She moved to Northern blvd by the food bazaar
There’s no such thing as being “placed” in a shelter. She doesn’t want to go to a shelter, she doesn’t have a job or any money; that’s why she’s on the street. It’s a shame she can’t get some kind of job & stay in some sort of budget accommodation. I suspect she somewhat enjoys her freedom but I’m not sure she’s approaching her condition rationally.
just saw her, shes back at her normal spot but with less stuff.
Do not care about Rite aid. They all get 15 an hour now and treat customers like crap.
Rude. People are losing their jobs. Have some compassion
Hoping a Target opens up.
Not a Wegmans?????
?
Thats too bad, but there is another one 90 sec walk away!
Just like when chase had two locations across the street from each other, now one is the new Parrot.
I wish they kept the other chase it was nice and cleaner. Me and my family had to distinguish them from each other so we used to call them “nice chase” and “ghetto chase”
Ghetto chase’s first cubicle when you walk in has paper recycling trash cans in it. C’mon man!!! youre a bank not a freakin warehouse.
This is a rite aid.
I would never have guessed anyone would be triggered just by seeing a paper recycling can. what???
He’s right about the distance though…I always thought it was odd to have two Rite AIDS four blocks away from each other. Didn’t seem like a successful business model.
As an employee at the west coast distribution center hours are reduced as much as possible due to less orders n over staffing.
It looks like there’s a desire to weaken the Unions. I’m sorry to hear Rite is closing, more saddened about people losing THEIR jobs!!!
Duane Reade , Walgreens and Rite Aid whats next CVS ?? People don’t shop like they used to due to online convenience . Sad to see stores shut down
Some people still shop, more now than ever. They don’t pay for anything, but boy do they shop.
It’s a large, clean store, and unlike other places in the area it was well-stocked and the line at the pharmacy wasn’t usually a nightmare. Friendly staff, too —- at least from my experience getting booster shots there. This is sad.
They had the best price for the flu shot I could find. The other Rite Aid wanted twice the price ( I dont know why that is) The staff in their pharmacy are really professional and nice.
Sad
The reason this location is so beloved is probably related to the fact that the staff and the pharmacy have been there for so long. This doesn’t happen at most 10 stores. When you have workers that work for 20 3035 years it’s because they are unionized and the store is one of the highest performing stores in the entire chain. They processed more prescriptions and do more business and the other location and the rent if not more money. This is strictly because these are union workers and Rite Aid is financially in trouble. Perhaps if they invested in the air people and treated them better they wouldn’t have to close one of their best stores. The problem is all of their other stores are so poorly run.
I wonder if the un-challenged and rampant stealing from drug stores, such as rite-aid, is a factor or the main reason these stores are shutting down. More collateral damage from the uprisings of summer 2020.
WOW you’re out of the loop. You think Rite Aid is closing only unionized shops in Queens, because of an uprising in Brooklyn from 2 years ago?
You have NO idea of the organized rings bringing shopping bags of merchandise out of these stores? Imagine being this gullible ?
I still remember when the Woolworths and Genoveses in the neighborhood closed. I worried. But then Cvs and Walgreens opened up. Back then i was worried about where i was going to buy candy and chocolate. Now i worry about where i am going to refill my heart medication and get my shots. Time flies. Enjoy it while you are young. I only go out to pick up meds and food shop now. The pandemic really changed things.
I remember when this store was Woolworths and Genovese (2 separate stores next door to each other). Sad to hear.
There was also a Woolworth and Genovese side by side on 31st and Ditmars Blvd in Astoria back in the day. It’s a great big CVS now.
There was an ice cream store between them. I forgot the name of it.
@Saigon – Later days it was Tony’s Super Scope before that a DQ.
Don’t forget Dairy Queen between them.
When I was growing up (I’m 57) this store was Genovese Drug Store. It had a little bit of everything and a EXCELLENT Make Up and Pharmacy.
Not exaggerating almost, everyone went to this drug store.
Right out front was one of the best hot dog stands .
I hope these employees are given other job opportunities at other branches. I wish all of them the best, and Rite Aid, needs to improve their communication with staff.
I remember that hot dog stand. I opened up a bank account at Chase and got a coupon for a free hot dog there.
you mean lincoln. anchor. dime. washington mutual 😀
The end of an era. I’ve been shopping at that Rite Aid on a near weekly basis for close to a decade now. I’m sure that someone buying most of their groceries from a pharmacy may seem weird, but it’s because they sold a lot of great products, and their discount program helped me save a lot of money. The recent change to their discount program made me realize that I’d be better off buying somewhere else, but I never expected this to happen.
I’m sure that there are multiple different reasons as to why it’s being closed down, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it being targeted by shoplifters is one of the reasons. Over the last year or so I kept seeing more and more products being placed behind locked cases, and I’m pretty sure that a private security company was also brought in.
It sucks to see it go because it’s provided so much for me and my family, but with how things have been going the last two years, it’s not a complete surprise.
What era is it the end of? The Rite Aid era?
I like this Rite Aid more than any pharmacy in the neighborhood. The pharmacy at the Walgreens store is much smaller, and their waiting area is too small. Another loss for Sunnyside.
What a Shame, Rite Aid was so convenient. Especially after Grocery Shopping to walk across the street to get Necessities.
I got All of my Covid Vaccines and Boosters there.
The Vibe in our Neighborhood has Changed Dramatically?
I Feel Badly for all the People, mostly Seniors who Rely on getting their Rx’s from the Pharmacy.
I’m Sure This Awful Pandemic has a lot to do with!?
I agree with you that the energy is just not the same in Sunnyside. I don’t wonder why.
It will become a 99 cent store like the Duane Reade that closed. Nice job unionizing it. Between the unionizing and the thefts it had to close. But, alas Cathy Nolan will be discussing the trends.
I don’t think shoplifting is the deciding factor in closing the store, it is most likely politically motivated. Anyway, a few pharmacies are open on greenpoint ave, it should not create a problem for people it’s just that Rite Aid is a good store all around, much better and cheaper than CVS. Very sad to hear that!
Omg this is insane! How many elderly ppl are going to have to find another pharmacy… The workers there have been there for years! I’ve been going there since it was Genovese pharmacy… I wish there was a way to stop this… we need riteaid right where it is …
The manager told me they lost $300k due to shoplifting last year. I’ve been told this by other workers at Walgreens and other similar chains in the area. We can thank the politicians and thieves for making this happen. I expect this to continue throughout the city.
Another loss
The shoplifting does not help
Another empty space
look at the bright side, probably a new expensive condo will be built after the store is demolished and increase the value of surrounding apartments.
Hopefully it will drive up rents too, shame we can’t get rid of the rent control scammers that are illegally subletting.
The other pharmacies have locks on some of their merchandise like toothpaste, vitamins, pain meds, etc. You ring a bell for someone to come and open it up.
I doubt it. There are security guards that follow people around the store.
Jill is correct. Check out the other large drug stores like Walgreens & CVS.
Rite Aid’s inventory has been spotty this winter. They even put empty boxes on their shelves so it didn’t look so bare.
Let’s decriminalize everything so Blacks and Hispanics will not go to jail. No more mass incarceration. And when Blacks and Hispanics are accused of committing crime just yell racism or use AOC’s favorite phrase – criminalizing poverty.
This will almost certainly be redeveloped. The building is pretty massive and Rite Aid is the sole tenant. Most likely between 6 and 8 floors.
We really need a lot more housing, so that will be good. Stinks that it’s so sudden though.
not really sudden. they are very expensive and have raised their prices substantially, thus loyal customers flocking elsewhere. if you are in love with rite aid, there’s another one a few blocks east.
Praying for more affordable housing.
Say a prayer for a plague of locusts while you’re at it.
Actually, this side of the boulevard needs more businesses not housing!! So many empty storefronts for decades because of greedy anti-American landlords!! Curious to know what the newly-elected city council member has to say about this. A huge inconvenience to Sunnyside residents. Who wants to walk all the way t0 50th & Roosevelt??
I concur with your assessment. Just what this area needs, more affordable housing with studios starting out at $3,200 a month, and minimum $95,000 annual salary requirement.
The interesting part of all this is timing. The new Community Board 2 was recently inducted on April 1st. I wonder if any of the new board members have anything to do with this very fast, and suspicious, closing?
I like that rite aid. I was able to get my vaccine booster and my flu shot there!
Perhaps an increase in shoplifting was a factor. When the law refuses to punish a particular crime, it has a tendency to increase. Expect more retailers to call it a day.
Yeah sure shoplifting.
“Perhaps?” Out-of-control shoplifting by organized posses selling the stuff on eBay and Amazon Marketplace is the ONLY reason these closures are occurring. The solid evidence is WHERE they are closing: Blue cities where criminals have been given carte blanche to do whatever they want.
@dodging robots – You’re spreading misinformation. Walgreens had scrapped its plan to buy Rite Aid corp after the plan was terminated by antitrust regulators. But it isn’t black and white. Walgreens will instead buy a smaller piece of the chain and it’s impact will be BIG. Some states will lose Rite Aid altogether!
The following states will no longer have any Rite Aid stores:
Alabama
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Mississippi
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Utah
West Virginia
You don’t get any “redder” than Alabama, Indiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Utah.
https://glitchndealz.com/good-bye-rite-aid-is-yours-closing/
This is not true at all. Rite Aid has been in decline for years and has been closing many stores for some time. The industry has changed a lot and with competition from online pharmacies and big box stores and clubs like Costco that have Pharmacies they aren’t able to be as competitive. They are not alone… “CVS said the long term strategy was to expand care delivery, while shrinking its bricks-and-mortar retail business.” …”Walgreens also recently shifted its focus, investing in other care providers, namely $5.2bn (£3.9bn) in healthcare provider VillageMD and $330m in health services provider CareCen”. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59340784
https://abc7ny.com/rite-aid-store-closings-pharmacy-closures-cvs-closing/11369764/
Detroit – You’re a broken record of “maybes”. Perhaps Rite Aid over expanded? Perhaps the lease is up? Perhaps Amazon Pharmacy played a part? Perhaps a local market with no less then 6 other pharmacies within walking distance played apart in the stores closing.
Hey, knowitall – you do know that the smaller pharmacies do not accept every kind of insurance for pharmaceuticals and that there is something called “preferred pharmacy”?
Think it has more to do with shopping online and no longer needing a paper prescription from a doctor. Many places deliver meds to your home.
We are going from lots of pharmacies to very few. Which business is next? Pharmacies are essential. Now some people will have long walks to find one. Yes, we may have been saturated by not we are experiencing the opposite – and when you walk for blocks to arrive, many items are under lock and key thanks to the thieves who are GETTING AWAY WITH SHOPLIFTING.
Hashtagger- Very few? Only more of your misinformation. Walgreens 45th Street, Rite Aid 51st Street, CVS 41st and Queens Blvd, Bliss Drugs 47th St and Queens Blvd, Sunnyside Pharmacy 48th and Skillman, Rockaway Community Pharmacy 43rd St and 43rd Ave, Woodside Pharmacy at 49th Street and Queens Blvd, Skillman Ave Pharmacy at 50th and Skillman. Skillman Chemist 48th and Skillman. Amazon Pharmacy 42nd Street and 43rd Ave, Prime Pharmacy and Surgical 45 th and Greenpoint. All stores less than 3 minute walk from Rite in question.
Perhaps it’s just a greedy employer getting rid of their union shops?
I’ve only seen a sharp increase in retail in Queens but ok…
well, when push comes to shove, take the law into your own hands. simple as that.
You think that bike lanes are dangerous and scary there tough guy ?
If only Charles Bronson were still alive…