These 12 Walgreens stores in San Francisco are closing
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Walgreens is closing a dozen locations across San Francisco, which could impact access to medicine for residents.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed these 12 locations will close by the end of February.
Here is the list of the dozen locations closing:
- 1201 Taraval St.
- 3201 Divisatero St.
- 1363 Divisadero St.
- 825 Market St.
- 1750 Noriega St.
- 5280 Geary Blvd.
- 1524 Polk St.
- 1301 Franklin St.
- 1189 Potrero Ave.
- 135 Powell St.
- 1630 Ocean Ave.
- 5300 3rd St.
In a statement, Walgreens states that it is never an easy decision to close a store and that closures are from "increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures" that are hurting their "ability to cover the costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs."
"We know that our stores are important to the communities that we serve, and therefore do everything possible to improve the store performance," Walgreens said in the statement. "When closures are necessary, like those here in San Francisco, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions."
This comes after Walgreens announced in 2024 that they would shutter 1,200 drugstores nationwide.
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Walgreens wouldn't say crime contributed to the closures, but these locations have been plagued by shoplifting for years.
"No, we need this," Catrina Mckneely, a San Francisco resident said. "This is the closest pharmacy."
With graffiti covering the windows and the front entrance still boarded up, the Walgreens in the Potrero Hill neighborhood is one of 12 locations closing for good across the city.
It was only two months ago when a car rammed into the front entrance of the location. Construction crews at the time said it was an unsuccessful attempt at breaking into the ATM and part of a concerning trend in the Bay Area.
"It's disheartening to say the least," Brandon Arnovick, a San Francisco resident said.
Neighbors say they see crime and shoplifting all the time.
"I mean I get it, I've seen horrible things happen in here, like people coming in and stealing things, coming in with bags and just going bdoop into their bag," Arnovick said. "I've seen kids, I've seen homeless people doing it, I've seen people that seem like they don't need to be doing it, doing it."
MORE: 8 arrested, including juveniles as young as 12 years old, in SF Walgreens crime spree, SFPD says
The Potrero Hill location is the same one tied to a major Walgreens crime spree over the span of several months last year, which resulted in the arrests of eight suspects, some as young as 12 years old. San Francisco Police said the group is accused of committing 23 thefts over four months, stealing more than $84,000 in Walgreens merchandise.
The closures include the same location on Market Street where 24-year-old Banko Brown was shot and killed by a Walgreens security guard in April of 2023, during what police called a shoplifting incident.
"I mean toothpaste is locked up," Arnovick said. "I get it if high priced items are locked up but now, it's pretty much everything and the people that work here are really jaded, rightfully so."
The closures do not include two Walgreens locations that were hit by smash-and-grab robberies within one hour of each other back in November.
Walgreens confirmed with ABC7 News that all 12 of these locations will close between February 24 to the 27. It added: "Walgreens has also stated that it will strive to retain most employees, though the collective bargaining agreement requires reassignment to unionized locations."
