Boston’s low income areas face fourth Walgreens store closure in a year

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The Roxbury community in Boston recently witnessed the closure of its local Walgreens store, adding to the list of four store locations shut down in the past year. The store at 416 Warren Street in Roxbury is set to permanently close on January 31, 2023. This decision follows the closure of stores in Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Roxbury itself in late 2022.

Walgreens cited an analysis of the local market and customer purchasing patterns as reasons for closing the three stores in 2022. The closures raised concerns in the community, with Boston City Councillor Brian Worrell expressing worry about the impact on affected neighborhoods.

City councilors, including Worrell, voiced their discontent with Walgreens and threatened to impede any future store openings in the city if closure plans were not halted. However, despite their efforts, Walgreens announced another closure in a similar disadvantaged location, indicating the continuation of this trend.

The closure of the Roxbury Walgreens store particularly affects nearby senior housing developments, where residents heavily rely on its accessibility and services. Reverend Miniard Culpepper expressed concerns about the impact on seniors and single parents who have limited access to alternative pharmacies or nearby Walgreens stores. Culpepper criticized the closure as insensitive and unjust.

These closures in Roxbury and other low-income areas raise important questions about access to essential services, especially for vulnerable populations. It emphasizes the need for ongoing dialogues and efforts to mitigate the disproportionate effects of essential establishment closures like Walgreens in disadvantaged communities.