‘I tried to get them to stay’: Milwaukee alderman on Walgreens closure

Walgreens will close yet another store in Milwaukee, sending pharmacy customers to another location, but the alderman for the area says be patient, resources are on the way. 

The pharmacy giant announced it is closing the 2727 W. North Ave. location by June 23, citing “persistent safety challenges” that does not allow the store to operate sustainably.

Customers can continue to fill prescriptions at the location until June 23. After that date, prescriptions will be automatically transferred to the Walgreens at 3522 W. Wisconsin Ave. 

This closure comes at a time when officials are attempting to combat a lack of resources, including grocery stores and pharmacies, in the area and on the north side of Milwaukee.

The only nearby non-Walgreens pharmacy is Hayat Pharmacy at 1919 W. North Ave. Some residents recently switched to the Walgreens North Avenue location after Kroger announced last July the closure of five Pick ‘n Saves, including one in nearby Metcalfe Park. 

In recent years, Walgreens announced it would close 1,200 stores by 2027, so the store closure doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise to Ald. Russell Stamper, who said he pleaded with Walgreens to remain in his district on North Avenue. 

“I tried to get them to stay,” Stamper told the Milwaukee Courier, “but the bottom line is making them suffer and they just cannot take it anymore. They’ve been struggling for a year now. Sad to see them go but I understand.” 

Stamper said he wanted to be clear that Walgreens gave him “proper notice” and the pharmacy giant did contact every pharmacy customer at the location. 

Related to safety concerns, Stamper said there has been a theft problem which in-part has been exacerbated by employees calling in for work. He added that police response time has been poor. 

But Stamper wants his constituents to know that the Common Council is addressing a lack of resources on the north side, including a $2.8 million line item in the city budget to “attract, retain and support local grocery stores and pharmacies.” 

Stamper said he has spoken to many interested parties about opening stores in his district, including at the Walgreens location. 

“We have a lot of things on our horizon based on a lot of community support, food and collective initiative, and it has brought people together to form new pathways to grocery and pharmacies,” he said.