Rio Grande Walgreens to Close as Part of Nationwide Cost-Cutting Measures

Rio Grande Walgreens to Close as Part of Nationwide Cost-Cutting Measures

Walgreens has announced that its location in Rio Grande, New Jersey, will be closing its doors on March 24, 2025.

The closure is part of a larger cost-cutting initiative by the pharmacy chain, which plans to shutter 1,200 underperforming stores across the United States.

This decision follows a challenging fiscal year for the company, as it struggles with increasing competition and declining profitability.

The Rio Grande Walgreens, located at 3300 Route 9 South, is among the 500 stores scheduled to close in fiscal year 2025.

Over the next three years, an additional 700 locations will be shut down as the company attempts to streamline operations and focus on its core retail pharmacy business.

Walgreens, like many traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies, has faced growing competition from online retailers such as Amazon, which now offers prescription drug services.

Additionally, declining drug reimbursement rates have further strained the company’s financial health. Other major pharmacy chains have experienced similar struggles—CVS laid off thousands of employees in 2023, and Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy the same year.

In a statement, Walgreens cited “sluggish consumer spending” as another factor contributing to the closures.

As inflation continues to impact shoppers’ budgets, many consumers are seeking lower-cost alternatives for prescriptions and everyday health and wellness products.

The closure of the Rio Grande Walgreens could have significant effects on the local community. Walgreens pharmacies provide not only prescription medications but also over-the-counter drugs, health services, and essential goods.

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Residents who rely on the store for their prescriptions will need to transfer their medications to another nearby pharmacy before the closure date.

The WVA also reached out to Walgreens Corp via phone and email and hasn’t heard back as of publishing.

With approximately 8,700 Walgreens locations across the U.S., the closure of 1,200 stores represents about 13% of its total footprint.

The company hopes that this strategic downsizing will help it refocus on profitability and long-term sustainability.

Customers with prescriptions at the Rio Grande location are encouraged to contact Walgreens for guidance on transferring their medications before the March 24, 2025, closure. They will close their doors at noon that day but it’s suggested people move their medications now.