CVS closed at NW Ex and MacArthur some time ago and I believe the 23rd & Classen store is closed as well.

CVS closed at NW Ex and MacArthur some time ago and I believe the 23rd & Classen store is closed as well.

Yes, I used to get a few scripts filled at CVS NWY and Mac, they closed it, it recently reopened at a Natural Grocers. National Grocers moved from their location on N May a little south of Grand Blvd to that old CVS store.

It's a Merry Go Round and going to get worse.

For me at NW 10th and May Avenue, my choices are Whittaker's, Dollar General, 7-11 or Family Dollar. Walgreens is a mile north.

Family Dollar is almost the dirtiest and has stock boxes all over the aisles. But, it is my dirty store, and the employees are nice enough. I rarely have to wait behind more than one customer checking out.

Dollar General is usually cleaner and has more inventory overall. It shares a parking lot with Whittaker's, and even I, with 40 years in the area, don't feel safe in that parking lot.

Whittaker's is filthy. COVID was scared to go in that store in 2020. It is also overrun with customers waiting to check out.

Walgreens and CVS don't have any more attraction that DG or Family Dollar when they don't have an open pharmacy I am going to. I don't see the attraction.

I watched the Dollar Stores video a couple weeks ago when it was posted in another thread. I think it is over 5 years old. I thought it was working to demonize the concept.

I've long worried about all these new big-box stores and gas stations.

Modern consumer trends shift rapidly and I'm concerned about what happens to all these properties once the world moves on from what they presently offer. Most CVS and Walgreens stores are only about 15-20 years old and they are already obsolete, and the rate of change is only accelerating.

As a community, we still have loads of smaller grocery store spaces that were all the rage up until the 90s, and now we have hundreds of vacant spaces that end up as bingo halls and pawn stores.

It's all become so disposable.

CVS closed at NW Ex and MacArthur some time ago.

I believe that is now a Natural Grocers...

I've long worried about all these new big-box stores and gas stations.

Modern consumer trends shift rapidly and I'm concerned about what happens to all these properties once the world moves on from what they presently offer. Most CVS and Walgreens stores are only about 15-20 years old and they are already obsolete, and the rate of change is only accelerating.

As a community, we still have loads of smaller grocery store spaces that were all the rage up until the 90s, and now we have hundreds of vacant spaces that end up as bingo halls and pawn stores.

It's all become so disposable.

I think it has been since WWII, at least. Look at the section line corners. I bet over half of the have had 3 structures on them since 1955. Think of the NW corner of Quail Creek Road and N May Avenue. Since around 1970, I know there was a "new" Gibble Gas (or somesuch) a McDonald's, and BancFirst. Each of them an all new structure.

I think it has been since WWII, at least. Look at the section line corners. I bet over half of the have had 3 structures on them since 1955. Think of the NW corner of Quail Creek Road and N May Avenue. Since around 1970, I know there was a "new" Gibble Gas (or somesuch) a McDonald's, and BancFirst. Each of them an all new structure.

Most of those corners had 4 small service stations as the first-built properties. At least those lasted about 50 years and a lot are still around in evolved form. We are now down to like a 10-year cycle and the size and scale of construction are much larger.

Article: Walgreens plans store closures as CEO says consumers 'stunned' by prices

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/walgreens-plans-store-closures-ceo-says-consumers-stunned-prices-rcna159208

I am not "stunned" by their prices. I know going in that Walgreens and CVS are going to have higher prices than a big box store on many of their items. You are literally paying for that convenience. However, I don't know many people under 50 that use Walgreens or CVS for their general merchandise. The only reason I find myself in a CVS is because of the exclusive pharmacy partnership with my employer. I am sure many use it just for prescriptions and that's it.

I feel like the modern dollar store has taken the place of CVS and Walgreens for quick general merchandise when wanting to avoid a big box store.

I feel like one downtown would have been extremely valuable. And no the corner of 23rd and Classen doesn’t count - I’m talking in the core/Midtown/Bricktown. Those may be the areas where they can hang on the longest.

Of course, I also thought a Walmart Neighborhood Market would do well (on Broadway) so what do I know?

I think that control and sale of non-generic, prescription drugs is what drove Walgreens and CVS. They might have fooled themselves and Wall Street by claiming all other sales were a profit center. But, I’m guessing they did not control costs and provide a competitive value for all other items.

We went into a Dollar Tree on Monday night for cheap mosquito coils. They had one register going and four people stalking items. One lady, well above her 60s, opened a new lane, and the computer instantly went down. The line was as long as half the length of the store. We proceeded to put the coils back and got out of there. I hate dollar stores; I have no clue how people shop there so often.

It's surely because shoppers are little more than a few steps from getting what they want. A lot of people don't like all the walking they have to do when in a super Walmart. They may have to walk further from a Walmart parking lot as well. So, it's faster to go to a Dollar store. Also, some Walmarts don't have check outs open at all times and some people don't like self-checkouts.

It's surely because shoppers are little more than a few steps from getting what they want. A lot of people don't like all the walking they have to do when in a super Walmart. They may have to walk further from a Walmart parking lot as well. So, it's faster to go to a Dollar store. Also, some Walmarts don't have check outs open at all times and some people don't like self-checkouts.

Of all the places I have recently shopped, the dollar stores, including Family Dollar, took the longest to find items and get through the checkout. Neighborhood Walmart was the fastest because of the self-checkout system. Walgreens has a long-time problem of taking forever, even if there isn't a line. Sometimes, you can't even find the person who is supposed to be at the checkout.

^

And the checkout process at both Walgreens and CVS is needlessly long...

Do you have a rewards card? Oh, that phone # didn't work, try another... Want to get a rewards card now? Follow the prompts on the screen... That coupon is expired... Oh, you have 8 more...

Yeesh. Just charge people one price and get them in and out.

The CVS by my house has self checkout and is never busy. I'm usually in and out in two minutes.

I wonder if dollar stores are what will start taking over these closing locations? A dollar tree recently moved into a vacant Walgreens at 51st/Lewis in Tulsa.

Walgreens just announced 150 stores will be closing.
Oklahoma stores:
9011 S. Pennsylvania OKC
6505 E. 71st Tulsa
6000 S. Pennsylvania OKC
4400 NW 23rd OKC

That store on 89th and Penn is indeed a terrible store, but it was heavily used. There is one further south on 119th and Penn but it's always busy as well, I imagine now it's going to be even worse.

Walgreens just announced 150 stores will be closing.
Oklahoma stores:
9011 S. Pennsylvania OKC
6505 E. 71st Tulsa
6000 S. Pennsylvania OKC
4400 NW 23rd OKC

****, we left the 50th/May store a long time ago because it was such a hellhole (insane lines at the pharmacy with all kinds of stupidity happening with every customer, took forever), and started using 23rd/May. Guess we're gonna go to delivery of our prescriptions now and just stop going to them at all, don't want to ever set foot in the 50th/May store ever again.

****, we left the 50th/May store a long time ago because it was such a hellhole (insane lines at the pharmacy with all kinds of stupidity happening with every customer, took forever), and started using 23rd/May. Guess we're gonna go to delivery of our prescriptions now and just stop going to them at all, don't want to ever set foot in the 50th/May store ever again.

I think the one closing on 23rd is the one at Meridian.

I think the one closing on 23rd is the one at Meridian.

My bad, you're right, the one at 23rd/May is 2400 N May, hadn't had enough coffee. Whew, got a reprieve, thx for the clue...

Walgreens just announced 150 stores will be closing.
Oklahoma stores:
9011 S. Pennsylvania OKC
6505 E. 71st Tulsa
6000 S. Pennsylvania OKC
4400 NW 23rd OKC

The 4400 NW 23rd location already had the Pharmacy closed like 6 months ago. At the time, Walgreens said they had no intention of closing the rest of the store.... Guess they changed their mind!

The pharmacies are in the back of the stores for a reason: to draw customers through the rest of the store.

Even moving more towards a drive-thru model has had to hurt foot traffic at Walgreens and CVS.

And of course, the pharmacy business model is being disrupted on various fronts, especially the deep discounters like Walmart and various online options.

That store on 89th and Penn is indeed a terrible store, but it was heavily used. There is one further south on 119th and Penn but it's always busy as well, I imagine now it's going to be even worse.

The one on 119th and Penn is the one we have always used. Thinking I'll need to change to Chris' Express soon.

The one on 119th and Penn is the one we have always used. Thinking I'll need to change to Chris' Express soon.

Yeah we may do the same, although that's just even further from our house. May swap to Walmart if there is a pharmacy in the neighborhood market on 134th and May.

Walgreens just announced 150 stores will be closing.
Oklahoma stores:
9011 S. Pennsylvania OKC
6505 E. 71st Tulsa
6000 S. Pennsylvania OKC
4400 NW 23rd OKC

Good riddance, I say.

The 4400 NW 23rd location already had the Pharmacy closed like 6 months ago. At the time, Walgreens said they had no intention of closing the rest of the store.... Guess they changed their mind!

What's bizarre to me is they closed the pharmacy at the SW 44th and S Shields store, but that store will be staying open?? And instead they're closing SW 89th and Penn, the one Walgreens on the south side that still had decent pharmacy hours??? I'm so confused right now.

It's all about if the overall store is performing well. Pharmacies can make money, but they also cost a lot of money too. If enough people are using the "market" side of the store to keep it going, well there you go. There are plenty of other local pharmacies near any of these, that you'll probably have a faster and better customer experience anyway.

I try to only use these places for covid booster/flu shots (only because my pharmacy doesn't carry the brand of covid shot that I prefer). They are good FedEx drop locations too, although i dont think they make much off of that....if any really. I treat the market side as an alternative when i dont want to go all the way to walmart to get something like gauze or certain shelf medications. It's convenience, but we also pay for that convenience. I'm honestly surprised that most of these places are not already closed. I just can't think of why people would buy most of the things that are in there, when the prices for the grocery store down the street are so much better. Then i remember how lazy people are and that sometimes just doing it all in one place is the winner. Or if you're less mobile, it really is a factor for you.

... I just can't think of why people would buy most of the things that are in there, when the prices for the grocery store down the street are so much better. Then i remember how lazy people are and that sometimes just doing it all in one place is the winner. Or if you're less mobile, it really is a factor for you.

We're perfectly mobile and not lazy. We use Walgreens because they're 1 mile down May Ave from us, and we don't shop at Walmart/Sam's/Amazon because they're evil. We get grocery delivery from Kroger, and they don't carry some of the products we buy at Walgreens - wife's Neutrogena products, my contact lens solution, a few things like that, plus our prescriptions, and usually what we buy has some kind of special going on when we use their rewards program. However, they've stopped carrying some things we used to get, we need to find some place else to buy them (Target online, maybe), so we are actually using them quite a bit less than we used to. The shelves at the 23rd/May store are always 1/4 empty, so that's been frustrating too.

All I know is that just about every time I pass our local Walgreens down on Covell and Kelly, the RX drive thru is just packed with at least 7-12 vehicles all waiting. I just pass it then walk into my local pharmacy and I'm in and out in about 5 minutes. The CVS at Danforth and Santa Fe is just the same. I don't really understand why people flock to Walgreens or CVS, but that's okay.

All I know is that just about every time I pass our local Walgreens down on Covell and Kelly, the RX drive thru is just packed with at least 7-12 vehicles all waiting. I just pass it then walk into my local pharmacy and I'm in and out in about 5 minutes. The CVS at Danforth and Santa Fe is just the same. I don't really understand why people flock to Walgreens or CVS, but that's okay.

It confuses me as well.

Walgreen's has terrible service, their stores are dirty, and you cannot find anything. It is a Dollar General with a pharmacy.

I would rather spend my money on small, local pharmacies. The lines are always shorter and the customer service is so much better.

The only thing Walgreens has going for them is a 24 hr pharmacy, but my medications can wait until day hours. The only time I use Walgreens is if I am in an emergency situation where I need medications now, but even Walmart has competitive hours and I would rather go there.

All I know is that just about every time I pass our local Walgreens down on Covell and Kelly, the RX drive thru is just packed with at least 7-12 vehicles all waiting. I just pass it then walk into my local pharmacy and I'm in and out in about 5 minutes. The CVS at Danforth and Santa Fe is just the same. I don't really understand why people flock to Walgreens or CVS, but that's okay.

Captives to insurance companies(prefered pharmacies and prices) and for profit healthcare.

It confuses me as well.

Walgreen's has terrible service, their stores are dirty, and you cannot find anything. It is a Dollar General with a pharmacy. ...

Generalize much? The 23rd/May Walgreens is not dirty, you can find anything they have in stock, just read the aisle signs. Their main problem is not having enough stock, way too many empty shelf spaces.

Captives to insurance companies(prefered pharmacies and prices) and for profit healthcare.

That's very true. I switched to Walgreens last year after switching insurance companies; I have 6 prescriptions for my heart that I will always take. They are preferred by my insurance company which means that 4 of the prescriptions are free and one is only a couple of dollars. The 6th prescription is about $50 less than I had been paying. The insurance premium is about $7.00 per month, which saves about $100.00,

I can endure a lot of wait time for that kind of savings.

It confuses me as well.

Walgreen's has terrible service, their stores are dirty, and you cannot find anything. It is a Dollar General with a pharmacy.

I would rather spend my money on small, local pharmacies. The lines are always shorter and the customer service is so much better.

The only thing Walgreens has going for them is a 24 hr pharmacy, but my medications can wait until day hours. The only time I use Walgreens is if I am in an emergency situation where I need medications now, but even Walmart has competitive hours and I would rather go there.
Which Wallgreen do you go to. I go to 122nd and May or Briton and Penn. Both are clean and stocked well. The one at 23rd and Classen seems fine too.

That said, we sponsor an app showing best pricing for specific rx and Walgreens, CVS, and Sams are rarely the cheapest.

Walgreens has owned the lot on the SE corner of NW 164th and May for maybe as long as we've lived in the area, which is 15 years. The lot is just North of that (god-awful) McDonalds and I wonder if they will sell it now? It would be nice to get something decent on that corner.

Walgreens announced they plan to shutter 1,200 stores in the U.S. over the next three years, but have not released a list.

They currently have about 8,500 stores across the country.


Between it and CVS, there are going to be lots of empty corners in American cities.

Walgreens announced they plan to shutter 1,200 stores in the U.S. over the next three years, but have not released a list.

They currently have about 8,500 stores across the country.


Between it and CVS, there are going to be lots of empty corners in American cities.

Guessing here, but I imagine the Walgreens in smaller communities will be impacted the most. The Walgreens that functions as a single location in a community of 10,000 to 25,000 people. Those stores have a very defined population base with little room for growth.

From an operations stand point it would also be easier for Walgreens to support a group of stores in a metro than a single store in a community.

Between it and CVS, there are going to be lots of empty corners in American cities.

I don't feel bad for either CVS or Walgreens closing due to their, in my opinion, stupid location selection process... let's see how close we can build our store to the other. There's absolutely no need to build both a CVS and Walgreens on the same intersection (or the next one over). If the two stores weren't spelled different, no one could tell them apart anyway.

I don't feel bad for either CVS or Walgreens closing due to their, in my opinion, stupid location selection process... let's see how close we can build our store to the other. There's absolutely no need to build both a CVS and Walgreens on the same intersection (or the next one over). If the two stores weren't spelled different, no one could tell them apart anyway.

Don't forget the cumbersome, time-consuming check-out process. It makes Wal-Mart look efficient. The CVS near us did install a couple of self-checkouts, which definately helped. One of the few places I prefer self-checkout.

The size and architecture of their stores makes it difficult for another business to move in cleanly. I can think of multiple former CVS locations that have had nothing besides a spirit halloween in them and they're always on prominent street corners.

The dollar stores really killed both CVS and Walgreens.

Those drug stores were basically the 80s and 90s version of TG&Y or the old 5 and Dime retailers.

They carry the same things as the dollar store, with more health stuff and a pharmacy.

But almost no one runs into Walgreens for soda, snacks, and school supplies. The dollar stores completely vacuumed up that market.


Both CVS and Walgreens have a very outdated business model relying on coupons, loyalty programs, and a ridiculously long check out process. People who want convenience items just go to OnCue or a dollar store. I personally despise going into those drug stores and always waiting in a long line and going through their ridiculous checkout. I know some have started to implement self-checkout but its too little, too late.

The dollar stores really killed both CVS and Walgreens.

Those drug stores were basically the 80s and 90s version of TG&Y or the old 5 and Dime retailers.

They carry the same things as the dollar store, with more health stuff and a pharmacy.

But almost no one runs into Walgreens for soda, snacks, and school supplies. The dollar stores completely vacuumed up that market.


Both CVS and Walgreens have a very outdated business model relying on coupons, loyalty programs, and a ridiculously long check out process. People who want convenience items just go to OnCue or a dollar store. I personally despise going into those drug stores and always waiting in a long line and going through their ridiculous checkout. I know some have started to implement self-checkout but its too little, too late.

ran into walgreens to pick up a rx the other day .. and was going to grab some Motrin while i was there .. the prices on other items it crazy ... generic ibuprofen is more than 3x the price at costco

The CVS by us has had self checkouts for years now. Checkout at our regular CVS is never an issue. And we regularly get 25%, 30% or even 40% of a single full price item or your entire full price purchase. The items can't be on sale. And CVS will even stack the coupons so you can use multiple % off at the same time. And yes their regular full price is high but with the coupon savings it can really get the prices down. And it seems the more coupons you use the more you get on their app. You also earn CVS care bucks on prescriptions. We don't buy junk food items but a lot of personal care and OTC items we would be buying somewhere else anyway can be really cheap there with their coupons. Their app makes it really easy to send the coupons to your card and you just scan the QR code on your phone and your coupons are all right there to use on the register.

I hear people complaining a lot about the Walgreens on 50th and May just closing early in thew afternoon a lot but I think that is because of staffing issues.

^

But most people do not want to mess with coupons. I know I don't.

And what's worse is being behind someone at checkout who has 37 coupons, half of them not matching the items they are trying to purchase, and thus a long discussion/negotiation with the checker.

But you do get a 10-foot-long receipt with even more coupons!

I don't know where you get most people. They are so easy to use at CVS. And if I can toke 40% off then an additional 30% off my entire purchase by touching a few things on the checkout screen it is a no brainer.And all those coupons on the receipt go straight to the app on your phone.

^

I get 'most people' from the fact dollar stores are booming and CVS and Walgreens are closing thousands of stores.

They clearly have a floundering business model.

From what I understand CVS is closing the stores where they rent and do not own the property. I was even told that by the Pharmacist at the one we use. I don't know about WGs. I've heard they are closing stores in high crime areas. Staffing might have something to do with it in some areas. And I have never considered stores like CVS and WGs to be in the same market as DG and DT and FD. If they were their regular priced goods wouldn't be what they are. But we can agree to disagree.

Competition from dollar stores and their simple pricing is often cited as a reason for closing so many Walgreens and CVS stores:


Walgreens is facing significant pressure from dollar stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree due to their lower prices on everyday items, causing many consumers to choose dollar stores instead for basic necessities, impacting Walgreens' retail sales and forcing them to adapt strategies like closing underperforming stores to remain competitive.

It is a little more than that one issue.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/15/business/walgreens-closures-earnings/index.html

I've noticed a few Walgreens locations have had the word "Pharmacy" covered over for a while.

Competition from dollar stores and their simple pricing is often cited as a reason for closing so many Walgreens and CVS stores:

And the dollar stores cite increased competition from Walmart online ordering for their current sales issues. (Walmart can fulfill online orders with dollar store quantities and free shipping.)

I know pharmacy staffing is an issue at the El Reno Walgreens. While I place my refill orders online, I never know if they will be able to fill them that day or in five days, so I go to Yukon instead.

The larger issue for Walgreens and CVS is their competition on the drug side of the business and essentially some bets on a few laws changing that would greatly benefit that business model. Not to say that if the drug side of the business improved substantially that they would stop shuttering stores regardless if the retail side continued to languish. It's a hard business to believe is just going to turn around overnight, that's for sure, but both groups do have some brand power and some pretty valuable real-estate in their portfolios to jump start their best locations.

^

I get 'most people' from the fact dollar stores are booming and CVS and Walgreens are closing thousands of stores.

They clearly have a floundering business model.

I'm sorry but this is not correct. Dollar Tree announced last year they are closing 1,000 stores while Dollar General is also having major financial troubles and closing stores. Both models simply overbuilt.

I'm sorry but this is not correct. Dollar Tree announced last year they are closing 1,000 stores while Dollar General is also having major financial troubles and closing stores. Both models simply overbuilt.

There are over 38,000 dollar stores in the U.S.

All retail experts agree that their dramatic rise took a lot of business from CVS and Walgreens.

There are over 38,000 dollar stores in the U.S.

All retail experts agree that their dramatic rise took a lot of business from CVS and Walgreens.

They may have, but they're no longer booming.