Gray Drug

Gray Drug was an American drugstore chain in Cleveland, Ohio. The chain began in 1912^[2] and grew to 46 stores by 1946 and over 100 by the 1970s.^[3][4] Besides Ohio, stores later opened in Florida and Maryland.^[5] The chain later acquired Alexandria, Virginia-based Drug Fair in 1981, shortly before Sherwin-Williams bought the chain. Gray Drug acquired several Cunningham Drug stores in 1982.^[2]

Gray Drug

Industry	Pharmacy
Founded	1912
Founder	Adolph Weinberger[1]
Defunct	1987
Fate	Sold to Rite Aid
Headquarters	Cleveland, Ohio , United States
Area served	Ohio

The company entered the discount department store business by acquiring the Cincinnati-based Rink's Department Store chain in 1964^[6][7] and the Cleveland-based Bargain City chain in 1967.^[8]

Gray Drug was sold to Rite Aid in 1987.^[9]

In 2023, Rite Aid, the successor to Gray Drug, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[10] On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in 2 years, listing assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion, blaming financial challenges such as debt, increased competition, and inflation.^[11]