May 15, 2025 - News

Bartell Drugs: A Seattle legacy fades away

Christine Clarridge

A woman with a child in a shopping cart walks in front of a Bartell Drugs store. — Once a Seattle institution, Bartell Drugs' remaining stores may close in the coming months. Photo: Tim Matsui/Getty Images

Six Rite Aid and two Bartell Drugs locations in Washington are set to close following a new round of shutdowns approved in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Why it matters: Bartell Drugs isn't just a drugstore chain, it's a Seattle institution.

Catch up quick: The family-run business has been a beloved local brand since 1890. It was known for stocking regional treats such as Theo Chocolate and Aplets & Cotlets before Rite Aid bought it in 2020.

Since then, Rite Aid has filed twice for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and it's now in the process of selling and closing stores nationwide.
The company plans to shut down all Bartell locations in the coming months unless a buyer steps in, KUOW reported last week.

Driving the news: Washington is losing Bartell locations in Snoqualmie and North Bend, along with Rite Aid stores in Kingston, Yelm, Anacortes, Granite Falls, Omak and Ephrata, per the Seattle Times.

The bottom line: The stores will stay open for now, but shelves will not be restocked. Closure dates haven't been announced.

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Bartell Drugs: A Seattle legacy fades away

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