CVS Health Unveils First 3,000 Sq Ft Pharmacy-Only Store in Chicago

CVSCVS

CVS Health opened its first 3,000 sq ft pharmacy-only location in Chicago and plans nearly 20 such apothecary-style outlets in 2026 to expand access to prescriptions, immunizations and over-the-counter products. These sites follow a Birmingham pilot and join 40 CVS Pharmacy openings across formats to optimize community care reach.

1. Launch of Pharmacy-Only Format

CVS Health opened its first dedicated pharmacy-only location at 2628 West Pershing Road in Chicago’s West End, featuring a 3,000 square-foot apothecary-style layout focused solely on pharmacy services and a curated over-the-counter selection.

2. Nationwide Rollout Plans

The company plans to launch nearly 20 pharmacy-only sites in 2026, including Houston, Roxbury, Detroit and Brooklyn, following a late-2025 pilot in Birmingham, Alabama, to increase access to pharmacist care.

3. Complementary Retail Expansion

These small-format pharmacies join more than 40 additional CVS Pharmacy openings across traditional stores, store-in-store formats and clinic-integrated locations as part of a strategic footprint realignment.

4. Community Care Focus

Each pharmacy-only site offers prescriptions, immunizations and pharmacist consultations to meet patient demand for in-person care, aligning with data showing 80% of patients prefer face-to-face pharmacy services.

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