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By Hugh Cameron
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A handful more Walgreens locations will soon shutter, as the drugstore chain works to trim the number of underperforming stores as part of the ongoing "Footprint Optimization Program."
Newsweek has contacted Walgreens via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Walgreens is the second-largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. behind CVS, a company that has also moved forward with store consolidation in an effort to streamline operations. Rival Rite Aid is also completely winding down its retail footprint, following a bankruptcy filing in May.
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This wave of pharmacy chain closures—both recent and imminent—has raised concerns that many Americans could be left without adequate access to nearby drugstores, making it harder to obtain essential medications. So-called "pharmacy deserts" are on the rise in the U.S., with more Americans having to travel farther from where they live to full their prescriptions.
Why Is Walgreens Closing Stores?
In October 2024, Walgreens, which operates over 8,000 stores in the U.S., announced that it would be closing roughly 1,200 underperforming stores over the next three years, 500 of which would be closing during the 2025 fiscal year.
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The company is undertaking these closures—the "Footprint Optimization Program"—as part of a cost-cutting strategy to streamline its core retail pharmacy business. The announcement followed Walgreens revealing a net loss of $3 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $180 million a year prior.
"This turnaround will take time, but we are confident it will yield significant financial and consumer benefits over the long term," CEO Tim Wentworth said at the time.
Which Walgreens Locations Are Closing?
According to AI-powered data analytics platform Usearch, which gathered the information by scouring the internet for local media reports, nearly 300 stores have already been closed, and these are the Walgreens locations expected to shutter within the coming weeks.
Colorado
- 950 S. Quebec St., Denver, on September 8
- 6200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, on September 10
Massachusetts
- 585 Washington St., Dorchester, Boston, on September 10
What People Are Saying
Walgreens, quoted in The Hill earlier this year, said: "We will continue to execute our previously announced turnaround plan aimed at stabilizing the retail pharmacy, including our footprint optimization program."
"It is never an easy decision to close a store, and we know how important they are to the communities we serve and therefore do everything possible to improve their performance," the company added. "When closures are necessary, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions."
What Happens Next?
The drugstore chain has said it will transfer prescriptions of those affected by the store closures. Additional information on how to do this can be found on the Walgreens website.
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