Overview
- CVS opened the first pharmacy-only site in Chicago on Monday, kicking off a plan to add nearly 20 more this year.
- The apothecary-style locations average about 3,000 square feet and offer a full-service pharmacy with a small set of over-the-counter items.
- The company expects roughly 60 store openings in 2026, including the smaller pharmacies, and will close a few dozen locations.
- CVS says the compact format is designed to improve access to medications, vaccinations and one-on-one pharmacist counseling, citing a company survey that found about 80% of patients prefer in-person pharmacy care.
- New sites are planned in Houston, Detroit, Roxbury and Brooklyn, following a late-2025 pilot in Birmingham that tested the pharmacy-only setup.