Walgreens to close 76 unprofitable stores, 14 in the West

[Sherman A1]

Walgreen Co., the nation’s largest drugstore chain, said it will close 76 unprofitable stores around the country in the second half of the fiscal year.

The Deerfield, Ill., company has 8,210 stores nationwide, or 138 more than a year ago. Of those, 638 stores are in California.

In the chain’s western region, which includes a dozen states, 14 stores are set to be shuttered. But Walgreens declined to specify which stores would close, saying that it would notify affected stores in the coming months.

“We won’t be confirming those locations until we’ve notified employees at the stores first,” said spokesman Michael Polzin.


http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-walgreens-close-stores-20140325,0,1374092.story#ixzz2x452WEcs

Looks to be a minor realignment if they opened 138 and are closing 76. Hope everyone holds onto their jobs or is able to get something that works for them.

[yeoman6987]

1. I hate to see the employees out of work

But I always was amazed at how many drug stores were around. We have 3 in a block literally. We have CVS, Walgreens and Thrift Drugs and that is besides about two or three local drug stores and of course Safeway, Giant and other supermarkets with pharmacies. We don't have a Walmart in this area so I can't count them.

[customerserviceguy]

2. No surprise

Back in my old hometown of Vancouver, WA, they seemed to open one up about every two miles or so, along the major commercial roads. Also, next time you see a Walgreens, you will often see a Rite Aid or a CVS very nearby, maybe both. I see that in a lot of towns just over the New Jersey border.

On the other hand, in my town, there are eight places to buy a car, six places to buy a tire, and not a single one of the aforementioned big box pharmacy chains, just those limited pharmacy counters in a couple of grocery store including Costco, where I won't shop. Seems like piss poor planning about where to put stores and where not to is a big part of the problem.

[SheilaT]

5. Why in the world won't you shop at Cosco?

Not sure where their CEO's politics might lie, but at least they pay their workings something like seventeen bucks per hour starting.

[customerserviceguy]

8. The ones I knew in the Northwest

were great, but the one in my town is rude. They pissed me off for good when they wouldn't do a tire rotation on the tires my gf bought for me on her membership, even though I could prove we shared the same address.

That did it for me, once you get on my 'list', you stay there.

[pipoman]

3. Pretty good record

If out of 8,200 stores only 76 are not profitable. ...walgreens is almost as prolific as starbucks in the west

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. They'll probably close some around Chicago. They were often next door to (now shuttered) Dominicks

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. I hope they are not closing the one I use but, there is CVS and Rite-Aid on that

intersection. I don't see how this small community can sustain them all ...

[kickysnana]

7. For decade I spent about $100 a week non-RX at WG because of their prices, select and convenience.

Easy in and out parking. Store easy for the disabled to get around. Their customer service worked. Long pharmacy hours.

Then they turned into CVS and tried to get the chic crowd??? and I have not been back except for paper plates that fit in our holders about twice a year. I see not many other people are shopping there. The rules for the Walgreens card "savings" were even more restrictive than CVS and I hated CVS and didn't shop there.

What were they thinking?