SouthernWorldwide.com – Walgreens’ departure from Chicago’s South Side was not an act of abandonment but a consequence of the environment created by crime, making it impossible for the business to operate sustainably.
The recent closure of a Walgreens on Cottage Grove sparked public outcry, with many attributing it to corporate greed. However, the reality on the ground suggests a different story, one where the business environment became untenable.
Reports indicate that the Cottage Grove Walgreens suffered over a million dollars in losses due to theft in a single year. Despite significant investment in security measures, including approximately $400,000 spent on guards, shoplifting and brazen thefts continued unabated.
These ongoing issues, coupled with threats to staff and a decline in customer traffic due to safety concerns, particularly among the elderly, created a situation where the store’s financial viability was compromised.
The article draws a parallel to the closure of a Walgreens near the author’s church on King Drive in Woodlawn several years ago, as well as a nearby McDonald’s. The author emphasizes that the blame for these closures should not be placed on the businesses themselves, but rather on the prevailing conditions of violence and rampant theft.
Chicago Alderman William Hall’s strong condemnation of the Walgreens closure, labeling it “pharmaceutical genocide” and “first-degree corporate abandonment,” is highlighted. Hall expressed outrage over the perceived mistreatment of elders and families by the company.
The author questions the selective outrage, asking where the condemnation was when the thefts were occurring and when the safety of elders was being jeopardized by the criminal activity.
The piece argues that it is easier to criticize a corporation than to confront the community’s role in creating an environment where businesses struggle to survive.
The author shares personal experience of organizing carpools for elderly church members to access essential medications after the local Walgreens closed, underscoring the real-world impact of such closures on vulnerable populations.
The article criticizes the tendency to make excuses for crime by pointing to “root causes” like poverty and broken families, while neglecting personal responsibility.
It is argued that driving out businesses like Walgreens or McDonald’s not only results in job losses for local residents but also stifles economic growth within the community.
The author asserts that for businesses to remain and thrive, the community must demonstrate that it is a worthwhile investment, characterized by respect, patronage, and a collective stand against destructive behavior.
The piece calls for introspection, suggesting that instead of blaming businesses for leaving, the community should examine its own role in creating conditions that lead to such departures.
The aspiration for businesses to return and flourish on Cottage Grove and King Drive is expressed, contingent on fostering a community that values and protects its commercial establishments.
The author concludes by urging a shift in perspective, from questioning why businesses abandon communities to understanding why communities might inadvertently drive businesses away.
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Pastor Corey Brooks, the author, is recognized as the founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and CEO of Project H.O.O.D. He is known for his rooftop vigils aimed at community transformation.
