Walgreens will close Chicago store due to theft, violence

Walgreens is closing a location on Chicago's South Side due to theft and violence, according to multiple reports.

The store in the city's Chatham neighborhood will close June 4. The closure follows the pharmacy retailer's decision to close five stores on the South and West sides of Chicago more than a year ago. Walgreens is also closing a specialty pharmacy in South Shore in a few weeks.

Walgreens said in a statement that the Chatham store has experienced “significantly higher levels of theft and violent incidents than company averages.”

The Deerfield, Ill.-based retailer said it tried a range of efforts to fix the situation, but ongoing safety challenges have made it difficult to maintain a secure environment for team members and customers.

Chicago Alderman William Hall claims a “mass abandonment” of quality medicine options has occurred on the South and West sides.

Officials want Walgreens to keep the pharmacy open at the Chatham location to avoid creating a pharmacy desert. The next closest Walgreens is more than a mile away.

The company will automatically transfer prescriptions to nearby stores after June 4, and customers will receive free prescription delivery for 90 days.

Walgreens has been battling store safety issues in New York City, where the retailer has begun a pilot program involving workers wearing body cameras.

Sycamore Partners finalized its acquisition of Walgreens in August and has been cutting labor and closing stores, although the retailer said it expects to close fewer than 100 stores this year.