I hate Rite Aid drugstores.

I hate the Rite Aid drugstores that have had the "renovation." The renovation consists of a radical new style layout and floor plan. They go away from the 150 year old business model of rectangular aisles leading up to the front of the store. Instead, they go with the Virgin Mega Store style of "is the store round inside?" curving aisles that lead onto some main pathways that intersect somewhere in the middle of the store, but from which you can never see the exits, let alone the cash registers. But unlike, Virgin, which has kept it's shelving low so you can scan the whole store at a glance, Rite Aid's high shelves create the feeling of being in a box hedge maze. One cannot even see the signs that hang from the ceiling to supposedly tell you were things are.

When I go to the drugstore, I don't need a boutique. I want to get in and get whatever it is-cough syrup, tampons, film- and get out. I'm not there to kill time. Record store, browsing.

Usually, I refuse to shop at Rite Aid. I will drive a few miles more to a much dumpier Sav-on just to not give Rite Aid my money. Last night, though, I stopped in against my better judgement, and was rewarded with the feeling of extreme rage. I want to take a rifle and blow my way across the store, creating the aisles that should be there. I don't want to hurt humans, just shelving units.

I hope Rite Aid sales numbers are down. I'm sure they blame it on the taint of ol' Thrifty's, which they bought out or poor managers or something like that. But I'm not the only one who feels that way. Same neighborhood, same time of night, the dumpy Sav-on is alive with business. Filled with so many customers you would think there wasn't a beautiful, clean, well stocked Rite Aid just up the street.