For years, Rite Aid at the Montecito Plaza was more than a usual convenience store for San Rafael High School students. It was a place for students to meet up with each other, grab snacks, or stop by during lunch or after class. Now that it’s permanently closed, students say they’re feeling the loss of a place that had become a part of their usual daily routine. 

Rite Aid officially shut down in late July as part of a wave of many stores closing nationwide. The company filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, and a second time in May of this year, to address the ongoing financial issues. The store, located directly across the street from San Rafael High School, was a longtime popular stop for not just students but also community neighborhood residents.

For some students, Rite Aid’s importance wasn’t about sentiment but more about its convenience. A senior at SRHS, Gabriella Alvarez recalls her experience going to Rite Aid for last-minute needs, “It had a lot of beauty items, hygiene items, like bandaids and things that if you needed them in an emergency, you could just go there.”

Other students shared how often they relied on the store for quick runs. A senior at SRHS, Brisa Briseno, said, “Freshman year, I went every single day to get a bag of chips or something. It was either for food or for a Redbull.” Briseno also acknowledged that the popularity of the store among teens may have had its downsides. She claims it might reflect a broader issue about student life. “I think it reflects how the kids behave, especially in our class, like 2026, the lack of discipline they have outside of school,” Briseno added.

Some students, such as SRHS senior Joey Navarette, pointed to concerns of shoplifting and student behavior. “People stole too much.” Navarette expressed concern about issues and challenges that both students and employees may have noticed.

Concerns as these highlight the broader challenges for local businesses in close proximity to high schools. Businesses may benefit from student customers, but also face challenges with crowding, theft, and loitering. Added pressures on large chains like Rite Aid can make it even more difficult to keep certain locations open when businesses are already struggling financially across California and the rest of the country. 

SRHS Principal Joe Dominguez provided insight about the activity at the location. “I think Rite Aid provides a convenience for students and staff looking for quick items, groceries, or snacks. Unfortunately, I noticed a decline in business from my first year at SR to my last. I imagine the decline in sales led to its closure.”

The company cited a “dramatic downturn in the economy” and the increase of costs as factors that heightened financial issues. As part of the bankruptcy process, the store is selling off most of its assets, including its pharmacy files and potentially the Thrifty Ice Cream brand. Many of customers’ prescription files are being moved to other local pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens. The remaining California Rite Aid locations are expected for closure. 

The location of Rite Aid is available for lease at Montecito Plaza. Looking ahead, people in the community are already wondering what might replace the chain’s place at Montecito Plaza. Weldon Miller, the head of security at SRHS, suggests some upcoming ideas for not just students but also for the local community residents. “So something like that, pizza, an arcade type of thing, somewhere where kids can kind of go out and enjoy themselves and have a safe place to really kind of have fun.”

Principal Dominguez also agrees with the idea of having a student-friendly area at Montecito that could benefit both SRHS and the revolving neighborhood. “I would like to see a student-friendly community center or some other business that provides a lunch/after school option for local families to interact with,” said Dominguez.

The bright red Rite Aid sign might be gone, but students say they’re hoping something new will take its place, marking the end of a familiar routine for many and the start of new possibilities in the heart of the SRHS community.