The decision stems directly from Rite Aid's financial woes, but the roots run deeper into economic trends affecting the retail sector. Rite Aid, a major pharmacy chain with over 2,000 stores, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2023, citing mounting debts, competition from online retailers, and the opioid crisis settlements that drained resources. By 2025, the company had already shuttered hundreds of underperforming locations, but the ice cream counters were collateral in this restructuring.