A bright yellow and red ‘Store Closing” sign now hangs above the entryway to Rite Aid at the southeast intersection of Main Street and Ashley Avenue.

It’s a stark reminder of how some business openings and closings are out of local control. There’s not much anyone can do when a nationwide (or even a local) chain decides to shutter its stores.

It was in 2020 that Nugget Markets — founded in 1926 in Woodland — moved its corporate offices to Davis. Some local residents were angry at the time and wanted the city to take action to keep the business truly “local,” but the decision was out of the city’s control. Nugget Markets is still located in Woodland (as is its subsidiary, Food 4 Less), but management is based in Davis.

And earlier this year, Big Lots pulled out when that firm went out of business.

In the case of Rite Aid, it’s one of 800 stores shutting down as part of a second bankruptcy filing in as many years. There are 40 stores designated to close in California, including the Davis Rite Aid.

Businesses come and go. In 1996, Rite Aid — then listed as the nation’s largest drugstore chain — agreed to acquire West Coast competitor Thrifty PayLess for $1.4 million. Both PayLess and Rite Aid had warehouses in Woodland at the time, so it seemed logical the businesses would expand with retail stores.

With Rite Aid, there were originally two stores planned, the second on the northwest side of Main and East streets. The second store fell through when the developer decided to pursue other projects.

Construction on Rite Aid at Main and Ashley started in mid-2008, after Sterling May — which catered primarily to farmers and those who needed lawnmower or small engine repair work — decided to relocate. Sterling May is now near Cottonwood Street.

With Rite Aid came Starbucks Coffee and Burger King, both of which seem to be doing well financially — at least I can never get out of Starbucks in under 20 minutes.

The other interesting thing about all three businesses is that they were the first to incorporate “public art” into their designs as required by the city. It’s not much by today’s standards, but if you look at all three structures, you’ll find colorful murals (although one on Burger King is missing). All were required by the city and despite some grumbling from those who considered it government overreach, the businesses complied, giving each a unique look.

There’s also been a number of changes at the Ashley and Main intersection. There’s a newly built apartment project, with a second set of apartments planned on the northwest corner — which was the designated site of what was to be a new Safeway, replacing one on Main Street. After five or so years, Safeway decided it didn’t want to compete against Raley’s only a few hundred yards farther west.

The Raley’s Shopping Center opened in the mid-1980s and has seen constant change with only Raley’s remaining a stable tenant (unless you count Golden Dragon and Sage Laundromat).

The AM/PM convenience store at Ashley and Main also recently underwent an upgrade, making it even more convenient.

Meanwhile, Judy’s Burger and Grinder, located immediately east of Rite Aid on West Main, continues serving a variety of good food, unchanged since its founding in 1977. Down the road is Foy’s Bike Shop, founded in 1910; and next door to Burger King is Yolo Veterinary Clinic, founded in 1952.

Businesses come and go and to me it will be interesting to see how long it will take to fill the space that is now Rite Aid.

Jim Smith is the former editor of The Daily Democrat, retiring in 2021 after a 27-year career at the paper.