Chicago alderman accuses Walgreens of 'corporate abandonment' in Chatham
Fox News • • business
Key Points:
- Chicago Alderman William Hall condemned Walgreens' decision to close a store in the Chatham neighborhood, calling it "first-degree corporate abandonment" due to safety concerns and its impact on local seniors and chronic patients.
- Walgreens cited ongoing theft and violent incidents as reasons for the closure, emphasizing the priority of maintaining a secure environment for employees and customers, with the store set to close on June 4.
- Hall argued the closure would create a "medicine drought" for vulnerable residents and criticized Walgreens for displacing small local businesses when it first opened.
- Alderman Raymond Lopez acknowledged community frustration but highlighted the long-term crime issues affecting neighborhood stores, suggesting the closure reflects broader consequences of unchecked criminal activity.
- Walgreens has similarly closed other stores in various cities due to rampant theft, with affected employees offered transfers to other locations.
