Leaving many communities without access to essential pharmacy services, Walgreens’ massive store closures hit hard as the retail pharmacy giant is shutting 1,200 locations across the nation.
The struggling company is already abandoning dozens of stores in 17 states, forcing loyal customers to find new places to fill prescriptions.
This latest corporate retreat follows the same troubling pattern seen at CVS and Rite Aid, leaving countless neighborhoods without essential pharmacy services.
Walgreens Boots Alliance is shuttering approximately 1,200 stores across America over the next three years, with 500 locations closing during the current fiscal year alone.
This massive downsizing represents one of the largest retail retreats in recent memory and will impact communities nationwide that rely on these pharmacies for essential healthcare services.
The company, which currently operates about 8,500 stores across the country, has already marked dozens of locations for immediate closure as part of what executives call a “strategic turnaround.”
An analysis of the closure plans revealed that at least 54 Walgreens locations across 17 states are scheduled to close in the coming weeks and months.
For many small towns and rural communities, these pharmacies serve as critical access points for medications and basic healthcare services.
The company has provided little warning to customers who must now scramble to transfer prescriptions to remaining locations or competing pharmacies, creating unnecessary stress for elderly and vulnerable Americans.
This dramatic pullback comes as the company posted staggering financial losses, reporting a net loss of $3 billion for the fiscal year despite sales increasing to $37.5 billion in the fourth quarter.
Industry analysts pointed to several factors driving the closures: declining prescription reimbursement rates, increased operational costs, and intensifying competition from online retailers like Amazon and big-box stores like Walmart and Target.
In a press release, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth said the closures are part of a strategic turnaround:
“Fiscal 2025 will be an important rebasing year as we advance our strategy to drive value creation. This turnaround will take time, but we are confident it will yield significant financial and consumer benefits over the long term.”
The pharmacy sector’s contraction extends beyond Walgreens, creating a concerning pattern for Americans who depend on these businesses.
CVS Health Corp has announced plans to close 900 stores over three years, while Rite Aid Corp has reduced its footprint to about 1,300 locations after emerging from bankruptcy.
This industry-wide retreat is leaving healthcare deserts in communities across America, with rural and low-income areas feeling the greatest impact as large corporations prioritize profits over patient care.
Specific closures have already been identified in major cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, and Oakland, as well as smaller communities like Augusta, Rockford, and others across the country.
Moreover, Walgreens claimed these decisions are part of an effort to “optimize store footprint, reduce operating costs, and improve cash flow.”
Yet, critics argued the company is abandoning communities that have supported it for decades.
Customers affected by the closures can transfer their prescriptions to another Walgreens location through the company’s website, mobile app, or by calling customer service.
However, for elderly customers or those without reliable transportation or internet access, these alternatives provide little comfort as they lose access to their neighborhood pharmacy.
The full list of store closures will continue to be released throughout the current financial year, leaving many communities uncertain about the future of their local Walgreens.
