'Makes a hole in the neighborhood': 2 Walgreens locations in Milwaukee to close in coming days
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — People on Milwaukee's north side will need to travel a little further to find their nearest Walgreens.
The company announced the closure of its N. 91st Street location near the Timmerman Airport.
“How are people going to get their medicine?” said Kevin Key, a customer.
Key will often come to the Walgreens near Timmerman Airport. He says it’s the nearest and safest one for him to get to.
“I come up here because I only have to take one bus and I’m halfway blind,” said Key. “If I go on 100th and Capitol, I have to take two buses.”
Now, that may be Key's only option.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 is the final day of operation for the Walgreens on 91st and Appleton. And it’s not the only one.
Just a couple miles away, on the corner of MLK and Locust, a second Walgreens is set to close on Thursday.
“I mean, now where we gonna go? Where we gonna go? Across town?” said Linda B., a customer. “What’s she going to do now? It’s just messed up."
In a statement, a Walgreens spokesperson told CBS 58 the closures come following the increased “costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs.” Walgreens says a majority of its staff will be transferred to other locations.
“Especially for our senior citizens, who rely on those pharmacies to get their prescriptions filled, that makes a hole in the neighborhood,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
It's a nationwide decision by Walgreens. Earlier this year, the company announced it would close 500 stores by the end of 2025. The company is expected to close 1,200 in total, nationwide, by 2027.
“I have no car, no bus fare, no cab fare. Forget the Uber,” said Mattie Hickman, a customer.
Johnson and other local leaders are encouraging people to find alternative pharmacies nearby. Customers say these locations will make it harder for them to get necessary items, including their prescriptions.
“I’m really gonna miss this Walgreens. It’s close to where I live and it’s so handy," Hickman.