Rite Aid closing additional stores in Chapter 11 filing

Rite Aid has added more store closings as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, reports Georgia’s Jackson Progress-Argus.

Originally, the Philadelphia-based retailer announced it would shut down 154 stores. However, on Nov. 2 Rite Aid filed a notice in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey adding 24 more.

Locations in Michigan (eight), Pennsylvania (four), the state of Washington (three), Maryland (three), New Jersey (two), and California, Delaware, New York, and Ohio were added to the shutter list.

A judge already signed the original list of 154 on Oct. 17, and if the court does not receive an objection by Nov. 9 the final order will be approved.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-October as it attempts to dig out from under billions of dollars in debt mainly caused by opioid lawsuits.

The Chapter 11 filing allows the Philadelphia-based retailer to restructure its debt, which sits at $3.3 billion. Lenders have agreed to provide $3.45 billion in debt relief.