Eckerd's drugstore chain was discontinued after a series of sales, primarily by J.C. Penney in 2004, which split the stores, with many going to CVS (and converting) and others to the Jean Coutu Group. Jean Coutu then sold most of its Eckerd/Brooks locations to Rite Aid in 2006/2007, leading to the final retirement of the Eckerd brand as stores were converted to Rite Aid. The name officially vanished from the U.S. market by 2007, ending over a century of the Eckerd brand.

Key Events in Eckerd's Discontinuation:

J.C. Penney Acquisition & Sale (1997-2004): J.C. Penney bought Eckerd in 1997 but struggled with the drug store business, eventually selling most of the stores in 2004 to the Jean Coutu Group.

Split & Conversion (2004-2005): The 2004 sale broke up the chain; many stores in key markets like Florida and Texas were converted to CVS, while others went to Jean Coutu.

Rite Aid Acquisition (2006-2007): Jean Coutu sold its Eckerd and Brooks Pharmacy stores to Rite Aid, which converted them all to the Rite Aid banner, officially retiring the Eckerd name by 2007.

Why it Discontinued:

Poor Performance: J.C. Penney cited poor operating profits and a lack of synergy with its department store business.

Competition: Eckerd faced intense price competition from larger players like Walmart and Walgreens.