Walgreens is shutting down another store in Chicago's South Side, specifically in the Chatham neighborhood, due to persistent crime issues. This marks the seventh Walgreens closure in this area over the past year.
• Alderman William Hall of Ward 6 blames Walgreens for the closure, accusing the company of “corporate abandonment. ” He claims this has created a “medicine drought” for residents.
• Hall's criticism comes despite previous opposition to Walgreens opening due to concern for local businesses.
• Walgreens executives reported significant losses, including more than $1 million last year from shoplifting and declining prescription sales at the Chatham store.
• The store faced a theft rate of 16%—four times higher than the company's average—leading to high security costs and further challenges.
• Criminal activity in the area, rather than corporate decisions, is primarily responsible for the store's closure.
• The company is trying to assist local customers by offering prescription delivery services and enabling employee transfers to other stores for safety.
• Alderman Raymond Lopez pointed out that the real issue is the ongoing crime that affects local businesses, questioning where the outrage was when stores faced years of crime.
• Despite a slight citywide decline in crime, challenges remain on the South Side, indicating a need for improved policing and prosecution.
Alderman Hall's focus on blaming Walgreens detracts from addressing the real problem of crime affecting the community. For businesses to return, stronger measures against theft and violence are necessary.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/walgreens-chicago-closure-crime-retail-theft
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