More Rite Aid store closings in Stark County. List of shut-downs now at 10 here

Two more Rite Aid stores in Stark County have been added to the list of planned closures ― 3720 Tuscarawas St. W in Canton and 304 E. State St. in Alliance.

They come a week after the company provided notice of 27 additional store closings, including stores in Massillon and Alliance , throughout Ohio and Michigan. The closures are part of a Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy case that began in October as the result of lawsuits related to its role in the opioid epidemic, billions of dollars of debt and declining sales.

Rite Aid has closed hundreds of stores nationwide and, once the additional stores close, Stark County will have lost 10 stores. The last day for the stores was not included in court filings.

Citing unidentified employees, news outlets in Ohio have reported that Rite Aid informed pharmacists in a conference call last week that it would close nearly all its stores in Ohio and Michigan over the coming weeks. The Ohio Capital Journal also reported that prescription files were expected to be purchased by and transferred to Walgreens.

Documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey include a proposed asset purchase agreement between Rite Aid and Walgreens. A court order approving the agreement, which is largely redacted, was filed Friday.

Rite Aid did not respond to The Canton Repository's messages seeking comment.

According to riteaid.com , the company has 142 stores in Ohio. However, the listings include some stores that are expected to close.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.com

This article originally appeared on The Repository: More Rite Aid store closings in Stark County. List of shut-downs now at 10 here