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CVS · Healthcare Facilities · Retail Pharmacy · Store Expansion
CVS Health Corporation plans to open approximately 60 new stores in 2026, marking its first physical footprint expansion after several years of significant contraction, as the company shifts its strategy following past struggles with competition and theft.
This strategic reversal follows CVS's announcement in 2021 to reduce its store density, leading to roughly 800 net closures over the prior three years and an additional 270 planned closures in 2025, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The new openings will encompass traditional stores, locations within Target stores, and specialized pharmacy-only sites, according to spokeswoman Amy Thibault.
These pharmacy-only locations, less than half the size of typical CVS stores, stock only health-related products, a format CVS introduced last year to address challenges from discount retailers and a surge in theft, as previously reported by The Wall Street Journal. While a small number of closures are still planned for 2026 due to lease expirations and relocations, CVS states it has "completed work to optimize our retail footprint to best serve the needs of our patients and customers." The article was written by Connor Hart for Dow Jones.
