Fresno is littered with empty pharmacy buildings. Some have new tenants with plans

Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Read our AI Policy.

• Rite Aid's bankruptcy closed 17 San Joaquin Valley stores a year ago.
• Some sites are becoming clinics, markets, gyms, and dollar stores.
• Several former Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid buildings remain for lease.

Drive anywhere around the Fresno area and you’ll eventually see an empty chain pharmacy.

It’s been a year since Rite Aid filed for bankrtuptcy and closed more than 2,000 stores — 17 of them in the San Joaquin Valley. And at least seven locations of CVS and Walgreens have closed in Fresno alone.

So what’s happening with those stores?

Some have new renters that haven’t moved in yet. Keep reading to find out who — including a new business that wants to move into the Rite Aid on the edge of the Tower District.

Some are in the final stages of negotiating with renters or new buyers.

And some are still sitting empty.

These buildings are challenging to fill. Despite being in prime locations on busy corners, they are an odd size and shape, said Russ Moroz, managing director of investments for commercial real estate investment brokerage Marcus & Millichap, which does business in Fresno.

They’re too big for fast food or other restaurants. Too small for regular grocery stores or big retail chains. Too short for the growing trend of kids indoor play centers, and usually lack the loading dock needed for showrooms selling kitchen tile or other home building supplies, he said.

“This is just an odd size in retail,” Moroz said. “It’s too small for your national-type tenants, and it’s too large for your service tenants.”

Most range from 10,000 and 16,000 square feet.

Usually, the drugstores didn’t own the buildings when they closed. Landlords were unexpectedly left with empty buildings, and without the high rents that the pharmacies paid. Other users usually can only afford much lower rents, Moroz said.

Ted Fellner and Gilbert Lara, who are senior vice presidents and partners at real estate firm Colliers in central California, have handled leasing or selling at least 14 former pharmacy spaces.

Who wants these buildings in Fresno?

Medical uses are popular, including walk-in clinics and dialysis places, Fellner said. For example, Family HealthCare Network’s walk-in clinic took over the former Walgreens at Clinton and West in 2022.

Dollar stores have taken over a few.

Hispanic markets and international markets are also opening in the vacant pharmacies, he said.

Sometimes, the buildings are subdivided because the drive-thrus are highly sought after, Moroz said. That comes with its own set of challenges because the stores only have one entrance, he added.

An unnamed pharmacy is slated to return to the Rite Aid at 1101 Fresno St. in downtown Fresno, taking over the drive-thru and a small portion of the interior, Fellner said. The rest of the building is up for lease.

In northwest Fresno, Jason Beard, owner of JB Fitness in Clovis, bought the former Walgreens at Herndon and West avenues. He is in the process of divvying it up into two parts. A gym will take over the bulk of the building and a seller of healthy drinks and food will take over the drive-thru, also serving customers inside the gym.

Other common renters Moroz said he could envision taking over pharmacies in Fresno include churches, gyms, and laser tag or arcades.

“Something that can benefit from drive-by traffic,” he said. “Entertainment-type uses would be great for Fresno.”

Who’s moving into these Fresno drugstores?

Rite Aid, Olive and Blackstone avenues: The business owners aren’t ready to talk, but a notice from the City of Fresno was mailed to neighbors about plans to turn it into a “general market” selling groceries and fresh produce, with a full-service butcher and a kitchen for prepared to-go food. The permit is needed because the owners are applying for a liquor license to sell beer and wine for at-home consumption.

Rite Aid, Maple and Copper avenues: The existing owner confirmed the building is in escrow and being sold to a new owner. He declined to say who is buying it or what they would use it for.

Rite Aid, Shaw and West avenues: The building was recently sold, and the property management company confirmed that a gym called Fitsi is planning to open in the location. Fitsi has a location in Escondido that features weightlifting, cardio machines, a sauna, cold plunge and a red-light therapy pod.

Rite Aid, Fresno and B streets downtown: The drive-thru and a small portion of the pharmacy have been leased to another unnamed pharmacy, Fellner said. The rest of the building is up for lease.

Rite Aid, Shields and Brawley avenues: Bestco Price Discount has opened in the former drugstore, a multicultural market selling discounted cosmetics, party supplies, toys and goods for Hispanic and Islamic holidays.

Rite Aid, Shields and Cedar avenues: This will be a medical facility, such as a clinic or urgent care, said Fellner, though he declined to name the organization.

Rite Aid, Cedar and Nees avenues: A Dollar Tree opened on the site less than a year ago.

Rite Aid, Willow and Nees avenues: Grocery Outlet opened a location here last summer, a move from an older location at Blackstone and Ashlan avenues.

Rite Aid, Cedar and Gettysburg avenues: Listed for lease.

Rite Aid, Kerman: United Health Centers has purchased the building and is still in the planning stages of taking it over.

Walgreens, Herndon and West avenues: The owner of JB Fitness in Clovis bought the building and is subdividing it into two. A gym with weights and cardio equipment will take up the majority of the space, along with recovery amenities for athletes, including a hyperbaric chamber, a cold plunge pool, infrared sauna, red-light therapy, and space for a nurse to perform IV therapy.

Tulare-based Immunity Labs will use the drive-thru and a part of the inside of the building to sell protein shakes, protein coffee and healthy food.

Walgreens, Clinton and West: Family HealthCare Network’s walk-in clinic opened in 2022.

Walgreens, Blackstone and Clinton: Listed for lease.

Walgreens, First Street and Bullard Avenue: Listed for lease, with several offers already, according to Fellner.

CVS, Fulton and Tuolumne: The CVS closed in 2022. Since then, the Fresno Housing Authority bought the property, with plans to build affordable housing.

CVS, Clinton and Brawley: The building has been purchased by Family HealthCare Network.

This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 10:06 AM.