PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 8                   Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
 (TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 2, 1998)         Registration No. 333-39699 
  
  
  
                                $650,000,000 
                            RITE AID CORPORATION 
                    5.25% Convertible Subordinated Notes 
                           due September 15, 2002 
                                                   
  
      This Prospectus Supplement No. 8 supplements and amends the Prospectus
 dated January 2, 1998, as amended by Prospectus Supplement No. 1 dated
 February 9, 1998, Prospectus Supplement No. 2 dated March 16, 1998,
 Prospectus Supplement No. 3 dated April 16, 1998, Prospectus Supplement No.
 4 dated May 27, 1998  Prospectus Supplement No. 5 dated May 29, 1998,
 Prospectus Supplement No. 6 dated June 30, 1998 and Prospectus Supplement
 No. 7 dated July 30, 1998 (the "Prospectus") relating to the 5.25%
 Convertible Subordinated Notes due September 15, 2002 (the "Notes") of Rite
 Aid Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and the shares of
 common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Company Common Stock"), of
 the Company, issuable upon conversion of the Notes. 
  
      The table on pages 20 through 23  of the Prospectus, which set forth
 information with respect to the Selling Holders (as defined in the
 Prospectus) and the respective amounts of Notes beneficially owned by each
 Selling Holder that may be offered pursuant to the Prospectus is hereby
 amended as follows: 
  
      The deletion on page 20 of the Prospectus of: 
  
           "Goldman Sachs & Co...  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68,587,000" 
  
 and the substitution thereof of:    
  
           "Goldman, Sachs & Co... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72,962,000" 
                 
      The deletion on page 23 of the Prospectus of: 
  
           "Anthracite Mutual Fire Insurance Company.. . . . . . . . 5,000" 
            
 and the substitution therefor of: 
  
           "Anthracite Mutual Fire Insurance Company . . . . . . .  10,000" 
            
                                              (continued on following page) 
  
      The Prospectus, together with this Prospectus Supplement No. 8,
 constitutes the prospectus required to be delivered by Section 5(b) of the
 Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to offers and sales of the
 Notes and the Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes. 
 All references in the Prospectus to "this Prospectus" are hereby amended to
 read "this Prospectus (as supplemented and amended)." 
  
 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
 AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
 PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY
 REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. 
  
 The date of this Prospectus Supplement is August 31, 1998 

  

      (continued from previous page) 
  
      The deletion on page 23 of the Prospectus of: 
  
           "Any Other Holder of Notes or Future Transferee
            from any Such Holder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   81,056,000" 
  
 and the substitution therefor of the following: 
  
           "Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company***  . . .  32,000,000" 
           "Healthcare Underwriters Mutual Insurance Company*** .    800,000" 
           "OHIC Insurance Company***  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   450,000" 
           "CA Public Employees Retirement System  . . . . . . . . 9,000,000" 
           "Integrity Mutual Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . .   225,000" 
           "Middle Cities Risk Management Trust  . . . . . . . . .    40,000" 
           "McMahan Securities Company, L.P. . . . . . . . . . . .   967,000" 
           "Any Other Holder of Notes or Future Transferee 
            from any Such Holder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   33,194,000" 
  
 and the addition to page 23 of the following footnote: 
  
 "*** Represents shares over which INVESCO (NY), Inc. ("INVESCO") has sole
 dispositive power and voting authority as investment manager.  INVESCO
 disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares."