Chicago Alderman Calls for Corporate Abandonment Charge After Walgreens Stores Closure

Alderman Says Retail Giant Should Be Charged With Crime Over Chatham Store Shutdown

A Chicago alderman called for a new criminal charge against Walgreens after the pharmacy chain announced it would close a store in the Chatham neighborhood.

Ald. William Hall said the company should face "first-degree corporate abandonment" charges. He spoke at a news conference on Monday with community members who expressed anger over the decision.

The store is located at S. Cottage Grove Ave in the 6th Ward. Walgreens confirmed it will close the location on June 4.

Walgreens should be charged with first-degree corporate abandonment, Hall said. It should be a crime, the way they are treating our elders. It should be a crime, the way they are treating our families.

In a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times, Walgreens cited theft and violent incidents as the primary factors behind its decision to close the store.

Despite a range of efforts, including previous operating adjustments, these ongoing safety challenges have made it increasingly difficult to maintain a secure environment for our team members and customers, Walgreens said. While this was not an easy decision, safety must remain our top priority.

Walgreens confirmed that employees at the location will be eligible to transfer to other stores.

Hall argued that the closure would create a medicine drought for seniors and residents managing chronic health conditions. He emphasized that the community is not begging Walgreens to stay.

We are not here to beg Walgreens to stay, Hall said. We are saying that their decision is the wrong decision. In my opinion, it should be considered a first-degree corporate crime. The number of elders who will not have access to healthcare is evil.

Hall further noted that Walgreens eliminated many small local businesses when it originally opened the store.

Ald. Raymond Lopez, a Democrat, questioned the timing of the community outrage. He asked where that anger was when stores in the community faced years of criminal activity.

Many leaders say it is simply an insurance matter, Lopez said. They are wrong. There are real-world consequences for crime running rampant. This closure is the perfect example of that effect.

Fox News Digital reached out to both Hall's office and Walgreens for further comment.

Walgreens has closed stores in other cities because of rampant theft, Hall noted. In 2021, the chain closed several stores in the San Francisco area, citing organized retail crime.