Walgreens to Close Five Massachusetts Stores as Part of National Downsizing
In a major shake-up of its retail footprint, Walgreens plans to close five Massachusetts locations by spring 2025. This is part of their larger initiative to close 1,200 stores across the country over three years. The closures will affect stores in Dorchester, Central Square, Fairhaven, West Springfield, and Easthampton.
Customers can rest easy about their medications for now. The company will transfer prescriptions to nearby locations and offer free 90-day prescription delivery. While 200 employees face job uncertainty, they may find positions at other stores that remain open.
The closures stem from tough financial times. Even with $39.5 billion in sales, the company lost $245 million, mainly due to closure expenses. Now, Sycamore Partners is looking to buy the struggling chain for $10 billion.
The stores closing are: 85 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven, 99 Westfield Street in West Springfield, 32 Union Street in Easthampton, 625 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, and 757 Gallivan Boulevard in Boston.
The pharmacy landscape has changed dramatically. Big players like Amazon and Walmart now offer online prescriptions, eating into traditional drugstore business. Since 2018, competitor CVS has already closed 46 stores throughout Massachusetts.
In Cambridge’s Central Square, where one store has been a neighborhood fixture for thirty years, the news stings. Many elderly residents and those without easy transportation depend on this location for their medical needs.
Moving forward, Walgreens is changing direction. They’re focusing on health services, expanding walk-in clinics and home care. It’s a major pivot showing how they’re working to stay relevant in today’s market.