Overview
- The Walgreens at 86th Street and Cottage Grove in Chatham closed Thursday, removing the nearest pharmacy within walking distance for many neighbors.
- Walgreens told reporters the store experienced significantly higher levels of theft and violent incidents, which it said made it hard to keep staff and customers safe.
- The company will automatically transfer prescriptions to nearby Walgreens locations and provide free prescription delivery for 90 days to ease the short-term transition.
- Local leaders and residents, including Sixth Ward Alderman William Hall, protested outside the store and warned the closure will hurt seniors and people without reliable transport who rely on nearby pickup.
- Thursday’s shutdown is the sixth South Side Walgreens to close in the past year and has prompted Hall to propose a city-run pharmacy access program to keep medication services in hard-hit neighborhoods.