-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 STyNHCHRBH9FKZFEsYc3A+aQFHDBDW3RDovkSLWQv/A8MIJMjmyp2CzaPMBTgugK
 FUQ047ZjBs9/BPUwHY7gBQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001215280-04-000001.txt : 20040408
<SEC-HEADER>0001215280-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040408
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040408104113
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001215280-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040408
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SLOAN STUART M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215280

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05742
		FILM NUMBER:		04723750

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1301 FIFTH AVE.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3000
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RITE AID CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000084129
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES [5912]
		IRS NUMBER:				231614034
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0302

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 HUNTER LANE
		CITY:			CAMP HILL OWN
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7177612633

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 3165
		CITY:			HARRISBURG
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17105

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RACK RITE DISTRIBUTORS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680510

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LEHRMAN LOUIS & CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680510
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000084129</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RITE AID CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RAD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215280</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SLOAN STUART M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SLOAN CAPITAL COMPANIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1301 5TH AVENUE   SUITE 3000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Patricia A. Seipe  For: Stuart Sloan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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