Walgreens to close 200 U.S. drugstores, uncertain status for local stores

Walgreens
Walgreens plans to close 200 drugstores nationwide. (WJBC file photo)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Walgreens will close 200 U.S. stores as part of a cost management plan, but it’s not known whether any Central Illinois pharmacies are on the closure list.

The company made the disclosure Tuesday in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing did not specify which stores will be closed.

Walgreens announced in May it was also shutting down 200 stores in the United Kingdom.

Last December, Walgreens embarked on a cost management program aiming to produce more than $1.5 billion in cost savings.

Walgreens has six drugstores in Bloomington-Normal in addition to stores in Pontiac, Clinton, Lincoln, and Monticello.

The company has more than 18,500 stores in 11 countries.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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