With many drug stores shutting their doors here in Western New York, like Rite Aid and CVS, we’re not surprised that we are hearing about another major chain announcing store closures and layoffs. 

We’re curious to find out how many Buffalo, New York residents will be affected by the latest major retailer announcing financial problems. 

Walgreens To Close Hundreds Of Stores In The Next Year

Thanks to the growth of massive Internet retailers like Amazon, drugstore chains have struggled over the past few years. Walgreens is no exception, and the retailer announced it will shutter approximately 500 stores by next October, with the goal of closing 1,200 locations over the next few years. 

This, along with Rite Aid closing several stores across the U.S. and CVS closing close to 1,000 locations over the last three years, proves that online shopping is king over local neighborhood drug stores when it comes to convenience. 

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Other factors in the massive amount of recent drugstore closures are being blamed by an increase in theft, as well as insurance companies giving drugstores less of a reimbursement for medications they fill. 

Which Walgreens Stores Will Be Closing In Western New York?

Sadly, we still don’t know. 

According to AP, Walgreens has yet to tell us which stores would close and when, but it  will likely depend on factors like how well that specific location is performing, if the property is owned by Walgreens, or if a store’s current lease is expiring.

For the Walgreens stores that end up closing here in WNY and beyond, one thing is almost certain: many of them will become Spirit Halloween Stores. THese local stores ultimately did. Do you remember what they used to be?

Do You Remember What These WNY Spirit Halloween Stores USED To Be?

Boy, things sure have changed - especially around Halloween!

Gallery Credit: YouTube/Google Maps

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