Walgreens to close 1,200 stores by 2027: A blow to customers in the USA

The pharmacy chain Walgreens plans to close 1,200 stores by the year 2027, with 500 locations affected in the current fiscal year alone. The reasons for this include, among other factors, low reimbursement rates for medications and a slowdown in consumer behavior, which have led to a quarter of the 8,700 U.S. stores becoming unprofitable. This development is particularly unpleasant for many customers in Tacoma. In April, a store on 56th Street was already closed, resulting in increased customer traffic at the Walgreens on 38th Street. "They closed the other store, too many people come here now," said one customer. This situation forces many other customers to travel longer distances and endure longer wait times to fill their prescriptions at other locations. Customer experiences vary significantly: while some find the drive-thru channel chaotic, Brad Samaduroff, another customer, reports that visiting the store itself also requires patience. "When you’re inside, just expect to be there for quite a while," he says. A particularly tense situation emerged last weekend when some customers received text notifications about temporary closures. Walgreens' appetite for store closures understandably meets with discontent, such as from Jeff Jensen, who reports emotional outbursts in the drive-thru line. Some customers have lost their patience to the extent of verbally assaulting innocent pharmacists. While Walgreens has not yet made specific announcements regarding the affected locations, it is certain that the measures will focus on unprofitable stores, particularly where the company owns the properties or leases are expiring.