CVS Pharmacy Opens First Pharmacy-Only Location in Chicago
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Interior of new pharmacy-only CVS in Chicago.
CVS Health unveiled the first of nearly 20 pharmacy-only, apothecary-style CVS Pharmacy locations it plans to open this year. The new pharmacy, located at 2628 West Pershing Road in Chicago's West End, aims to increase access to pharmacy care and help bridge gaps in community health services.
The pharmacy-only format makes it easier for community members to access medications, immunizations, and other health care services provided by pharmacists. Each site features a full-service pharmacy with a customized selection of over-the-counter products available for purchase.
Smaller Footprint, Focused Service
With footprints averaging around 3,000 square feet, the pharmacy-only sites ensure patients have access to prescription medications and the trusted advice and counsel of their neighborhood CVS pharmacist. The locations will open in areas across the country, creating a simple and convenient way for community members to seek pharmacist support.
"Pharmacists are among the most accessible and most trusted health care providers," said Len Shankman, Executive Vice President and President, Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness, CVS Health. "We know how important it is for patients to be able to speak one-on-one with their pharmacist, have their questions answered and seek medication advice when needed."
Shankman explained that the new pharmacy-only locations allow pharmacy teams to continue building relationships with patients and provide on-the-ground pharmacy care in communities that need them.
Part of Larger Strategy
The pharmacy-only locations represent just one component of the company's work to reinvent pharmacy. By taking a customized approach focused on the diverse needs of the communities they serve, CVS Pharmacy has worked to strategically realign its retail footprint over the last few years.
These smaller dedicated neighborhood pharmacies join several other formats already in place across the country, including traditional full-service front store and pharmacy locations, store-in-store pharmacies inside Target and Schnucks grocery stores, CVS Pharmacy stores that feature a MinuteClinic retail medical clinic, and side-by-side CVS Pharmacy and Oak Street Health care centers.
The company opened its first pharmacy-only location in Birmingham, Alabama late last year. In addition to the new site in Chicago, pharmacy-only locations are planned for several other communities in 2026, including Houston, Texas, Roxbury, Massachusetts, Detroit, Michigan, and Brooklyn, New York.
Customer Preferences Drive Format
The 2025 CVS Health Rx Report highlighted that 80 percent of patients prefer face-to-face pharmacy care, and nearly half would switch pharmacies if limited to digital-only options. The overwhelming majority of pharmacy professionals, 97 percent, also say in-person interactions remain vital.
"We believe health care is best delivered locally, in the community by trusted, caring and tech-enabled colleagues and our customers and patients want to shop and engage in the way that's most convenient for their busy lives," added Shankman.
Whether in-person, online, or a combination of the two, community pharmacies are delivering service through consistent, connected, personalized experiences, meeting consumers where, when, and how they need them.
Multiple Options for Patients
Whether a patient prefers the convenience of same-day or one- to two-day prescription delivery or prefers to visit their local pharmacy in-person, CVS Pharmacy is ensuring patients have multiple care options to choose from, depending on their individual needs.
The new pharmacy-only sites help the company better support its patients in select communities, ensuring its footprint is the right size and scale, and addressing shifts in the pharmacy industry.
Expansion Plans
The company also plans to open more than 40 new CVS Pharmacy locations in 2026, including traditional stores and pharmacies in Target. The expansion reflects the company's ongoing commitment to serve communities and meet consumers where they are.
As of December 31, 2025, CVS Health had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics, and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members.
The pharmacy-only format represents an innovative approach to pharmacy care, focusing on the core services that patients need most while maintaining the personalized, face-to-face interactions that customers prefer. By tailoring store formats to community needs, CVS Health continues to adapt its approach to delivering accessible, convenient pharmacy services across the country.