Walgreens is continuing its nationwide store reduction plan in 2026, with new closures across several states. The pharmacy giant expects fewer than 100 locations to shut this year as it focuses on a smaller and more profitable retail network.
Walgreens Continues Multi-Year Store Reduction Plan
US pharmacy chain Walgreens is continuing a major restructuring of its store network, closing underperforming locations as part of a multi-year downsizing effort.
The company currently operates more than 8,500 stores across the United States, making it the second-largest pharmacy chain in the country. Despite hundreds of closures already completed, Walgreens remains a major presence in many communities.
Executives have described the move as a “store optimization strategy”, designed to concentrate resources on stronger-performing locations rather than represent a withdrawal from the pharmacy business.
The closures are not limited to traditional retail stores. In recent years, Walgreens has also closed larger operational sites, including a nearly 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Houston, as part of its wider restructuring plan.
Fewer Closures Expected After Ownership Change
Walgreens first announced in October 2024 that it would close around 1,200 underperforming stores over three years. The company later said it expected to close approximately 500 locations in 2025. However, after Walgreens became a private company in 2025, its new owners adjusted the pace of the reductions.
The company now expects to close fewer than 100 stores in 2026, compared with earlier projections that suggested the number could have been closer to 700. The reasons behind individual closures vary depending on location. Walgreens has pointed to factors such as declining sales, expiring leases, changes to its distribution network and rising operating costs.
Security Concerns Add Pressure on Some Locations
In some areas, Walgreens has also cited security concerns and ongoing theft as factors making certain stores too expensive to keep open. In Chicago, several locations have closed after years of reduced operating hours and concerns from local communities. Some residents have criticized the closures, arguing that they reduce access to essential pharmacy services.
The disappearance of local Walgreens stores can affect customers who depend on nearby locations for prescriptions, health products and everyday purchases.
Walgreens Stores Closed in 2026
Several Walgreens locations have already closed across the United States in 2026. In California, the closed location is 1301 Market Street in San Francisco. In Florida, the affected store is located at 12041 Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers.
In Illinois, closures include 2351 E 71st Street and 8628 S Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, 5503 E State Street in Rockford and 108 Wilmot Road in Deerfield. In Missouri, Walgreens closed stores at 11404 St Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton and 2202 Chambers Road in St. Louis.
Other closures include 120 Court Street in Brooklyn, New York; 1294 Ribaut Road in Beaufort, South Carolina; 1805 Greens Road in Houston, Texas; 1301 S Joyce Street in Arlington, Virginia; 2400 S Jackson Street in Seattle, Washington; 1815 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.; and 2727 W North Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Walgreens has not provided detailed comments on each individual closure but continues to reshape its retail network as the US pharmacy sector faces changing consumer habits, higher operating costs and increased competition.
