Walgreens continues store closures nationwide as part of its turnaround plan

Walgreens is continuing to close underperforming stores in 2026, although the pharmacy chain is reportedly planning fewer closures than previously projected.

The company is expected to close fewer than 100 stores in 2026, down from earlier internal projections of roughly 700, Inc. reported.

Walgreens announced in October 2024 that it intended to shutter approximately 1,200 underperforming stores over three years as part of a broader turnaround effort. 

At the time, the company said it expected to close about 500 stores during fiscal 2025, primarily targeting locations that were generating negative cash flow, according to Reuters.

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The closure strategy was reportedly scaled back after Walgreens went private in 2025, according to Inc.

Walgreens continues to operate thousands of stores across the U.S. and remains one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains.

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The company confirmed to USA Today that the following locations have recently closed or are scheduled to close. The closures were previously reported by Inc., local news outlets or Walgreens’ website:

• District of Columbia: One Washington location
• Illinois: Two Chicago stores and one Rockford location
• Missouri: One store in Bridgeton and another in St. Louis
• New Jersey: One Bogota location scheduled to close Aug. 6
• New York: One Brooklyn location
• South Carolina: One Beaufort location scheduled to close Aug. 6
• Texas: A Houston distribution center
• Virginia: One Arlington location
• Washington: One Seattle location
• Wisconsin: One Milwaukee store

One of the Chicago closures highlights the financial and operational pressures behind some of the company’s decisions.

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Walgreens announced earlier this year it was closing its location near 86th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood after the location struggled with declining prescription sales and elevated levels of theft.

“I’m here today because we’re closing the store at 86th and Cottage Grove. But I just want to make sure everyone understands closing stores [is] not our goal. This is the last resort,” Walgreens regional Vice President Reginald Johnson said in May, according to FOX 32 Chicago.

Walgreens could not immediately be reached by FOX Business for comment.

FOX Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.