Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                           File No. 333-82872


PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 5
(To Prospectus dated May 17, 2002)

                                 $250,000,000
                             RITE AID CORPORATION
                     4.75% Convertible Notes due 2006 and
                       38,461,539 Shares of Common Stock
                     Issuable upon Conversion of the Notes

         This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated May 17,
2002 of Rite Aid Corporation, as supplemented on June 5, 2002, June 11, 2002,
August 27, 2002 and October 3, 2002, relating to the sale from time to time by
certain of our security holders (including their transferors, donees, pledgees
or successors) of up to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of
our 4.75% Convertible Notes due 2006 and the shares of common stock issuable
upon conversion of the notes. You should read this prospectus supplement in
conjunction with the prospectus, and this prospectus supplement is qualified
by reference to the prospectus, except to the extent that the information in
this prospectus supplement supersedes the information contained in the
prospectus.

         The table of selling security holders contained in the prospectus is
hereby amended to amend the information for the following selling security
holder:



                                  Aggregate principal                                                 Percentage of
                                  amount at maturity       Percentage        Number of shares of      shares of
                                    of  notes that         of notes          common stock that        common stock
Name                                  may be sold          outstanding       may be sold (1)          outstanding(2)
----                              -------------------      -----------       -------------------      --------------
                                                                                              
Tamarack International, Ltd.       $  3,000,000                1.2               461,538                  *

-----------
* Less than one percent



(1) Assumes conversion of all of the holder's notes at a conversion rate of
153.846 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount at maturity of the
notes. This conversion rate is subject to adjustment, however, as described
under "Description of Notes--Conversion Rights." As a result, the number of
shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes may increase or
decrease in the future.

(2) Calculated based on Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act, using
515,126,181 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 27, 2002. In
calculating this amount for each holder, we treated as outstanding the number
of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of all that holder's notes,
but we did not assume conversion of any other holder's notes.


         Investing in the notes or shares of Rite Aid common stock involves
risks that are described in the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 10 of
the prospectus.

         NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

         The date of this prospectus supplement is November 21, 2002.