Retail

Walgreens Closing Stores in Whittier, Downtown L.A.

Walgreens is closing two stores in Los Angeles County and another three in Orange County. The stores include a location in Whittier and another in downtown Los Angeles.

Reasons for Closure

Marty Maloney, Walgreens’ director of media relations, said via email that “increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures” were weighing on costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs.

“It is never an easy decision to close a store,” he wrote. “We know that our stores are important to the communities that we serve, and therefore do everything possible to improve the store performance. When closures are necessary, like those here in California, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions.”

Store Closures and Affected Employees

The stores closing include:

• Whittier: Closing March 20 with 26 potential layoffs at 11604 Whittier Blvd.
• Los Angeles: Closing March 27 with 27 potential layoffs 617 W. 7th St.
• Orange: Closing March 25 with 8 potential layoffs at 3237 E. Chapman Ave.
• Placentia: Closing March 24 with 19 potential layoffs at 1201 E. Yorba Linda Blvd.
• Stanton: Closing March 26 with 13 potential layoffs at 11900 Beach Blvd.

Walgreens wrote in its notice to the state that the closures are permanent. A list of affected jobs includes pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, cashiers, customer service associates, store managers, and inventory specialists.

Context for Retail Industry

Drugstore operators have struggled since the pandemic, with hundreds of stores closing nationwide as consumer habits shift. Opioid settlements also have laden chains with debt. Last spring, Rite Aid marked 31 stores in California for closure in a bankruptcy restructuring plan. At the time, the pharmacy chain was facing slumping sales and several opioid-related lawsuits.

Conclusion

The closures will result in at least 93 people losing their jobs, according to a notification sent to California’s Employment Development Department. However, Walgreens intends to redeploy the majority of its affected associates to other stores.

FAQs

Q: Why is Walgreens closing these stores?

A: The company cited increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures as the reason for the closures.

Q: How many employees will be affected by the closures?

A: At least 93 employees will be affected, according to a notification sent to California’s Employment Development Department.

Q: Will Walgreens be redeploying the affected employees?

A: Yes, the company intends to redeploy the majority of its affected associates to other stores.