The new Walgreens office in Chicago, set to be housed in the Old Main Post Office building, is expected to open in fall 2019, officials said Monday.
Bringing with it nearly 2,000 jobs, the company said it plans to host digital and IT operations employees as well as some Walgreens Boots Alliance global IT personnel in the new space.
Of the 1,800 positions coming to the 400 block of West Van Buren, 1,300 will be for relocated employees, the company said.
"This will be the largest number of corporate employees Walgreens has ever had based in Chicago," Walgreens said in a statement, adding that there are currently about 4.500 employees in Chicago, including those at its 120 drugstores.
Walgreens Boots Alliance will remain headquartered in north suburban Deerfield.
“Investing in our infrastructure and building our digital and technical capabilities are essential elements of our business transformation strategy, as we work to improve access for our customers and enhance the customer experience,” Walgreens President Alex Gourlay said in a statement. “The space in the iconic Old Post Office building allows us to attract and retain the best talent from all of Chicagoland.”
The new office will be announced at an event Monday afternoon, with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expected to attend.
Local
“Walgreens was born in Chicago with one small pharmacy on the South Side, and their big new presence in one of our city’s most iconic locations is a great way to look to the future,” Emanuel said in a statement.