Walgreens to Close Five South Side Chicago Stores, Leaving Communities in Pharmacy Deserts

Photo Credit: Mike Mozart, Flickr Walgreens will close five Chicago stores in the coming weeks, a company spokesperson confirmed to NBC Chicago. The closures, planned between Feb. 17 and Feb. 27, include stores in the following locations: 7111 South Western Avenue (West Englewood) 4005 West 26th Street (Little Village) 9148 South Commercial Avenue (South Chicago) 3405 South King Drive (Lake Meadows) 7109 South Jeffery Boulevard (South Shore) The company attributed the closures to the costs of rent, staffing and supplies. “It’s never an easy decision to close a store,” a spokesperson said. “We know that our stores are important to the communities that we serve, and therefore do everything possible to improve the store performance.” The impacted South Side stores—on South Commercial Avenue, South King Drive, and South Jeffery Boulevard—have drawn strong reactions from local public officials. In a joint statement, State Senator Robert Peters, State Representatives Kam Buckner and Curtis J. Tarver, and Aldermen Lamont Robinson, Desmon Yancy, and Peter Chico expressed frustration and concern: “The closures at our South Commercial Avenue, South King Drive and South Jeffrey Boulevard Walgreens locations will be a devastating blow to our communities. Walgreens started in or near our districts in South Side...