We all have been aware for awhile that pharmacy giant Walgreens has been in trouble. Profits are down, reimbursement from health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid and drug manufacturers has adjusted down for quite some time now. And they have made a lot of missteps along the way. Earlier this year they did announce that they probably would need to close some stores, but who knew how many would go away.

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The whopper of an announcement came yesterday that they will be closing 1,200 stores they classify as underperforming by the end of 2027. They added that at least 500 will close next year, 2025.

No doubt there is an oversaturation of drug stores around the country and here in Grand Rapids. Rite-Aid and CVS, major competitors of Walgreen's, are either seriously downsizing or locking their doors and walking away.

Walgreens Reports Quarterly Earnings
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It did seem as if there was a drug store, CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens, on every corner? They were building as fast as they could to capture the customer and move their prescriptions to them. Bad move.

San Francisco Walgreens Locks Freezer Section Of Store To Thwart Shoplifters
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And, the business has changed so much over the years. The so called drug stores are now almost mini-marts because you can buy anything from beauty products, food, snack items, toys, gift wrapping and cards, beer and wine, health aids and more. Oh, and by the way, they do fill prescriptions.

Walgreens Announces Plans To Shift Employee's Healthcare To Private Insurance Marketplaces
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Walgreens has become a sort of doctor's office because you can get your vaccination shots there too.

So, how will all of this pharmacy shuffle affect of us in West Michigan?

We don't know yet and that's frustrating. Walgreens is simply scaring us with their announcement and haven't decided which stores will go bye-bye.

It's under analysis, as they say.

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