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Walgreens introduced plans to shut a location on Chicago’s South Aspect subsequent month as the shop’s profitability suffered because of elevated ranges of theft in addition to a decline in prescription gross sales.
The pharmacy chain revealed the explanations behind its choice to shut the Walgreens at 86th in Cottage Grove within the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago at a city corridor in the neighborhood on Saturday.
“I am right here immediately as a result of we’re closing the shop at 86th and Cottage Grove. However I simply wish to be sure everybody understands closing shops [is] not our purpose. That is the final resort,” Walgreens regional Vice President Reginald Johnson mentioned, in keeping with Fox 32 Chicago.
Walgreens executives revealed on the city corridor that the situation misplaced over $1 million final yr amid softening prescription gross sales and important ranges of theft, which resulted within the choice to shut the shop on June 4.
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Walgreens is closing a location on Chicago’s South Aspect subsequent month. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs)
Johnson mentioned that “theft at this retailer is 16%,” which is “4 instances above the corporate common,” which contributed to losses on the retailer.
The corporate mentioned that it took measures to counteract theft on the retailer, however was unable to place an finish to the problems on the location.
“Lock bins assist us defend the merchandise within the retailer. A number of the time, these lock bins have been getting destroyed. And that is at a fantastic price to the corporate,” mentioned Walgreens district supervisor Jason Vasquez, in keeping with Fox 32’s report.
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Walgreens executives mentioned safety and lock bins weren’t enough to cease theft on the retailer. (Al Drago/Bloomberg through Getty Photographs)
It additionally mentioned that Walgreens was spending $400,000 a yr on safety guards on the retailer, however workers nonetheless confronted assaults and threats amid the theft on the location.
“Wev’e had folks leap throughout the counters, as a result of we promote liquor behind the counter, taking liquor, cigarettes,” mentioned Lonnie Fuqua, the shop’s supervisor. “That wears down. Not a lot the monetary piece however the endurance of that day in and day trip.”
Residents and clients of the situation expressed concern on the city corridor about entry to their prescriptions and frustration with having to go to a location farther away from their neighborhood, Fox 32 reported.
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Walgreens is within the means of closing about 1,200 shops nationwide. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Common Photographs Group through Getty Photographs)
The corporate is encouraging clients to make use of one other Walgreens location that is about 1 mile away and is reaching out through mail and electronic mail to tell clients about how they’ll have their prescriptions delivered by mail.
“For seniors, there’s some options which were put in place the place you will get free supply. That has already began for these medicines you will have that, beneath the regulation, could be delivered,” Fuqua mentioned.
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FOX Enterprise reached out to Walgreens for remark.
