Articles Provided by Chain Drug Review

Walgreens marks opening of 7,000th store

DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreen Co. on Thursday celebrated hitting the 7,000-store mark nationwide with the grand opening of a new location in Brooklyn, New York.

Situated in the neighborhood of Gravesend, not far from the famed Coney Island boardwalk and amusement park, the new drug store is Walgreens' 20th Brooklyn location and its 67th in New York City's five boroughs, according to the company.

Plans call for Walgreens to open about 25 New York-area stores over the next couple of years. The company, which earlier this week indicated that it plans to take a more measured approach to new store openings, said it's targeting the Northeast and California for much of its future store growth.

As part of the new Brooklyn store's grand opening, which was attended by local and state officials, the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour is offering free health screenings to all adult attendees and flu shot vouchers to uninsured adults in the store’s parking lot. The specialized tour buses can provide screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, bone density, glucose levels and body mass index.

Walgreens noted that over the past decade, it has grown from 3,000 stores to reach its goal of operating 7,000 stores by 2010. The chain currently operates more than 7,040 stores, which it says makes it the nation's largest drug chain in terms of store count.

"For the last decade, we have focused on finding the best corners in America to provide consumer goods and pharmacy and health and wellness services," stated Walgreens president and chief executive officer Greg Wasson, who attended the Brooklyn grand opening. “Today, more than 50% of the U.S. population lives within two miles of a Walgreens and close to 75% lives within five miles."

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