Exhibit 7.8


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all by these presents, that each of the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Jonathan D. Sokoloff, signing singly, as the undersigned's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:

     (1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer, director or beneficial owner of Preferred Stock and
Common Stock of Rite Aid Corporation (the "Issuer"), Amendment(s) to the
Statement on Schedule 13D in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder;

     (2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such
Amendment(s) to the Statement on Schedule 13D and timely file such form with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or
similar authority; and

     (3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to,
in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall
contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grant to such attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such
attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein
granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming,
nor is the Issuer assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 13 of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.

     This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Amendments to the Statement on
Schedule 13D with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in
securities issued by the Issuer, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a
signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.






     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the  undersigned  has  caused  this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 18th day of June, 2002.


     /s/ Leonard I. Green
     ---------------------------------------
     Leonard I. Green


     Green Equity Investors III, L.P.
     By: GEI Capital III, L.L.C., its general partner

        By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
        Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
        Title:   Manager


     Green Equity Investors Side III, L.P.
     By: GEI Capital III, L.L.C., its general partner

        By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
        Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
        Title:   Manager


      GEI Capital III, L.L.C.

      By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
        Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
        Title:   Manager


      LGP Management, Inc.

      By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
        Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
        Title:   Vice President


      Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.
      By: LGP Management, Inc., its General Partner

        By:      /s/ Jonathan D. Sokoloff
         -----------------------------------
        Name:    Jonathan D. Sokoloff
        Title:   Vice President