In October 2024, Walgreens announced it would be closing about 1,200 stores over the next three years across the U.S. as it struggles with declining consumer spending.
Those closures will hit closer to home for some Florida residents.
The pharmacy announced two Florida locations, both in Jacksonville, will be closing, with one slated to close its doors in less than a week.
Here’s what you should know.
Walgreens closing 2 Jacksonville, Florida, stores
Walgreens announced two Florida stores — both in Jacksonville — will be closing, one on May 19 and the other on June 26, a Walgreens spokesperson said in an email statement May 14.
Closing will be the Walgreens at:
That’s my Walgreens. How do I transfer my prescriptions to another Walgreens?
“Patients who get their prescriptions at these locations do not need to take any action,” according to an email from Jennifer Cotto, Walgreens senior specialist, media relations.
“They will be notified by mail and their prescriptions will be transferred to the nearest Walgreens location. They will also be eligible for free 90-day delivery. We encourage them to speak to their pharmacists to learn how to set up that service.”
Why is Walgreens closing pharmacies?
Walgreens has previously announced it would be closing 1,200 stores over three years as part of its business strategy. The Florida closures are part of that plan, Cotto said.
“We will continue to execute our previously announced turnaround plan aimed at stabilizing the retail pharmacy, including our footprint optimization program. Increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures are weighing on our ability to cover the costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs.
“It is never an easy decision to close a store, and we know how important they are to the communities we serve and therefore do everything possible to improve their performance. When closures are necessary, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions.”
How many stores will Walgreens close?
Walgreens said in October 2024 it planned to close about 1,200 stores across the U.S., starting with about 500 stores in fiscal year 2025.
“Fiscal 2025 will be an important rebasing year as we advance our strategyto drive value creation. This turnaround will take time, but we are confident it will yield significant financial and consumer benefits over the long term,” said Tim Wentworth, chief executive officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, in the 2024 fourth-quarter earnings report.
Wentworth also reiterated the company’s commitment to focusing on improving its core business: retail pharmacy.
How many Walgreens stores are there in US, Florida?
Walgreens said on its website it serves nearly 9 million customers and patients each day across approximately 8,500 stores.
Data company ScrapeHero puts the number of Walgreens in the U.S. and its territories as of April at 8,212. Florida leads the U.S. in the number of stores. Top five states are:
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Walgreens closing 2 Florida stores, both in same city. What to know
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
