NEW YORK — CVS Health plans to open roughly 60 new locations in 2026, marking its first net expansion after several years of shrinking its store base according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. The new openings will include traditional CVS stores, in-store pharmacies at Target locations, and pharmacy-only sites, said company spokesperson Amy Thibault. A limited number of stores are still expected to close next year, largely due to lease expirations or relocations.
The article in the Journal said the company has completed an effort to optimize its retail footprint to better meet customer and patient needs. CVS had previously announced plans to reduce store density, including the closure of about 270 locations in 2025, following approximately 800 net closures over the prior three years.
CDR
Like other national drugstore chains, CVS has faced pressure from discount retailers and increased theft, prompting cost-cutting measures and widespread store closures. In response, the company has introduced new store formats, particularly smaller, pharmacy-focused locations. About a dozen of these sites opened last year, offering primarily health-related products such as over-the-counter medications, while eliminating many of the general merchandise items traditionally found in CVS stores the article reported.
