LANSING — A little more than three months ago Rite Aid operated nearly 190 stores in Michigan. Now, nearly all of them are gone.
All but one, in Warren, have been shuttered, according to the company’s website . The national pharmacy chain’s decision to close all its stores in Michigan after a 2023 bankruptcy filing, left over a dozen storefronts or buildings empty in Greater Lansing.
The empty buildings stand in Lansing, East Lansing and Okemos, and in smaller outlying communities, including Eaton Rapids and St. Johns. Most are on the market, either for lease or sale.
Some of the empty storefronts and buildings, especially those on visible corners in highly populated areas, will likely be filled by national or regional retail stores, area commercial real estate agents say, while others in less visible places will be attractive to dollar and bargain businesses.
There are real challenges that come with marketing and reimagining uses for the properties, but that doesn’t mean they’ll sit vacant, Retail Advisor Samantha Le, of Martin Retail Brokerage Team, said.