CVS Health Launches New Pharmacy-Only CVS Locations to Expand Community Access to Care
CVS Health® (NYSE: CVS) has announced the opening of the first of nearly 20 new pharmacy-only CVS Pharmacy® locations it plans to launch this year, marking another major step in the company’s strategy to increase access to pharmacy care and strengthen its community-based health services. Designed with an apothecary-style format, these new stores are intended to serve as dedicated pharmacy destinations, focusing entirely on prescriptions, pharmacist services, and a streamlined selection of health essentials.
The first of these new pharmacy-only locations has officially opened at 2628 West Pershing Road in Chicago’s West End. CVS Health says this location will help bridge gaps in health care access by making it easier for local residents to obtain medications, immunizations, and other pharmacist-supported services. With pharmacy teams available to offer one-on-one guidance, CVS is positioning these smaller sites as accessible, neighborhood-based health care touchpoints for communities that may have fewer nearby care options.
By introducing pharmacy-only formats, CVS aims to provide a more direct and efficient way for patients to access essential services while ensuring that pharmacy care remains available in areas where it is most needed.
A New Store Concept Built Around Pharmacy Care
Unlike the traditional CVS retail store model, these pharmacy-only locations are intentionally smaller and more focused. Each site will feature a full-service pharmacy operation along with a carefully curated selection of over-the-counter products available for purchase.
CVS Health stated that these locations will average approximately 3,000 square feet, offering a compact footprint designed to meet the core health needs of patients without the large-scale front-store inventory associated with standard CVS stores.
The goal of this new concept is to strengthen convenience and access while maintaining the personal pharmacist-patient relationship that remains essential in community health. Patients will be able to fill prescriptions, consult pharmacists, receive immunizations, and purchase key health-related products in one easy-to-navigate setting.
This streamlined approach also reflects changing consumer behavior, with CVS focusing on pharmacy services as a critical driver of community-based care.
Strengthening Trust Through Accessible Pharmacists
CVS Health executives emphasized that pharmacists continue to play one of the most important roles in the health care system, especially when it comes to accessibility. Pharmacists often serve as the most direct health care contact for many patients, particularly in underserved neighborhoods where medical appointments may be difficult to schedule.
Len Shankman, Executive Vice President and President of Pharmacy and Consumer Wellness at CVS Health, highlighted the importance of pharmacist access and the growing demand for face-to-face interactions.
Shankman explained that patients value the ability to speak directly with pharmacists, ask questions about their prescriptions, and receive guidance about medication usage. These interactions are especially critical for individuals managing chronic conditions or multiple medications, where small misunderstandings can lead to serious health risks.
CVS believes the new pharmacy-only locations will allow pharmacy teams to deepen relationships with patients, reinforcing the trust that pharmacists have long built within their communities.
By placing these sites in neighborhoods that need expanded pharmacy access, CVS is aiming to provide consistent on-the-ground health support in a setting that encourages personal communication rather than purely transactional service.
A Broader Strategy to Reinvent CVS Pharmacy
The pharmacy-only format is not being introduced as a standalone project. Instead, CVS describes it as part of its larger multi-year effort to reinvent the pharmacy experience and modernize how consumers engage with health services.
Over the past few years, CVS Pharmacy has strategically realigned its retail footprint, working to ensure its stores match the size, scale, and service needs of the communities they serve. The company’s leadership says that this customized approach is essential in an evolving pharmacy industry shaped by shifting consumer expectations, competition, and new care delivery models.
The pharmacy-only locations represent one solution to those changes. Rather than relying solely on large traditional stores, CVS is expanding its range of formats to make pharmacy care available in more flexible and localized ways.
This reinvention strategy allows CVS to place pharmacy resources where they can deliver the most impact, especially in communities where access to medications and immunizations remains a challenge.
Multiple CVS Pharmacy Formats Serving Different Needs
CVS Health made it clear that the pharmacy-only model is just one part of a much larger portfolio of store formats. The company has already established several pharmacy approaches across the United States, each designed to meet different consumer and community needs.
Traditional CVS Pharmacy locations remain a core part of the brand, combining a front retail store with a full-service pharmacy. CVS also continues to operate store-in-store pharmacy formats, including pharmacy counters located inside major retail partners such as Target and Schnucks grocery stores.
Another key CVS format includes locations that feature MinuteClinic retail medical clinics, which provide walk-in care services such as minor illness treatment, physicals, and vaccinations. These stores offer a broader care experience by integrating pharmacy access with clinical support.
CVS has also expanded side-by-side models that pair CVS Pharmacy locations with Oak Street Health centers. These are primarily located in neighborhoods with high Medicaid populations and are intended to deliver more comprehensive care services alongside pharmacy support.
By offering multiple formats, CVS aims to build a flexible pharmacy network that can adjust based on population density, community health needs, and evolving health care delivery demands.
Chicago Location Marks an Important Expansion Point
The new CVS pharmacy-only site in Chicago is being positioned as a key example of how the company plans to expand pharmacy access in urban communities. Chicago’s West End neighborhood is one of the areas where convenient access to health services can play a major role in improving overall outcomes.
With the opening of the Pershing Road location, CVS is not only introducing a new store format but also reinforcing its focus on community-based health infrastructure.
CVS believes these smaller sites will provide a more approachable environment where patients can quickly access pharmacy services without needing to travel long distances or navigate a larger retail store.
In addition to prescriptions and immunizations, CVS pharmacy staff will be available to help customers with medication counseling, dosage questions, and other health-related support that can often prevent complications or hospital visits.
Expansion Plans Across the United States
The Chicago store is not the only pharmacy-only location currently in CVS’s pipeline. The company opened its first pharmacy-only location in Birmingham, Alabama, late last year, using it as an early model for how these compact pharmacy sites can function successfully.
Following Birmingham and Chicago, CVS plans to open additional pharmacy-only locations in several major communities in 2026. Planned cities include Houston, Texas; Roxbury, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; and Brooklyn, New York.
These locations were selected because CVS believes they represent areas where expanded pharmacy access could create meaningful impact. Many of these communities include high-density populations and diverse health needs, where convenient pharmacy services can serve as a vital connection point for care.
In addition to these pharmacy-only openings, CVS also plans to open more than 40 new CVS Pharmacy locations overall. This includes traditional store formats as well as new pharmacies within Target locations.
This combination of pharmacy-only expansion and broader CVS store growth reflects the company’s continued investment in strengthening its physical pharmacy presence despite increasing digital pharmacy competition.
Consumer Demand Still Favors In-Person Pharmacy Support
While digital health tools and online prescription services continue to grow, CVS Health says in-person pharmacy care remains critical. The company cited findings from the 2025 CVS Health® Rx Report, which highlighted strong consumer preference for face-to-face pharmacy services.
According to the report, 80% of patients prefer receiving pharmacy care in person, showing that physical pharmacy access continues to be a major factor in customer satisfaction and trust. The report also found that 48% of patients would consider switching pharmacies if their only option was digital-only care.
These numbers indicate that many consumers still rely heavily on direct communication with pharmacists and are unwilling to sacrifice human interaction for online convenience.
CVS also noted that pharmacy professionals share this perspective. According to the same report, 97% of pharmacy professionals believe in-person interactions remain essential to effective care delivery.
These findings reinforce CVS’s strategy of investing in physical pharmacy locations while also maintaining digital capabilities.
Blending Local Pharmacy Service With Digital Convenience
CVS Health emphasized that its future pharmacy strategy is not limited to physical locations alone. The company is continuing to support digital and delivery options for patients who prefer remote access.
Patients can still choose prescription delivery services, including same-day delivery or 1- to 2-day delivery, depending on their needs and location. CVS believes this flexibility is key to serving modern consumers who want both speed and convenience.
At the same time, CVS maintains that local pharmacy access remains the foundation of strong community care. Many patients prefer the reassurance of walking into a pharmacy, speaking with a pharmacist, and receiving immediate support when concerns arise.
Len Shankman stated that CVS believes health care is best delivered locally, by trusted and tech-enabled colleagues who understand the needs of the communities they serve. He added that customers want to engage in the way that is most convenient for their lifestyles, whether that means visiting in person, using online tools, or combining both.
By expanding pharmacy-only locations, CVS is strengthening its ability to deliver personalized service at the neighborhood level while still offering digital pharmacy solutions for customers who prioritize remote convenience.
A Shift Toward Smaller, Community-Focused Pharmacy Models
The launch of pharmacy-only CVS locations signals a larger shift within the retail pharmacy industry. Rather than relying exclusively on large-format drugstores, companies like CVS are exploring more efficient models that prioritize health services over general retail merchandise.
This shift reflects the growing importance of pharmacists as frontline health providers. As consumers face rising health care costs and appointment shortages, pharmacies are increasingly becoming a first stop for basic care needs.
By focusing on smaller footprints, CVS can potentially expand its presence into more neighborhoods while lowering operating costs and keeping services centered on prescriptions and wellness support.
At the same time, the apothecary-style approach adds a more health-focused atmosphere that aligns with the idea of pharmacies as community care hubs rather than general convenience stores.
Building a More Accessible Pharmacy Network
With plans to open nearly 20 pharmacy-only locations this year and additional sites in 2026, CVS Health is making it clear that community pharmacy access remains a core part of its long-term strategy.
The company’s investment in this new store format supports a growing demand for local, human-centered health care solutions. These pharmacy-only stores are designed to deliver what patients value most: reliable prescription access, immunizations, pharmacist counseling, and essential health products in a streamlined setting.
As CVS continues to evolve its retail footprint and expand its multiple pharmacy formats nationwide, the pharmacy-only concept may become an important piece of how the company strengthens its role as both a retail brand and a community health care provider.
Source Link:https://www.cvshealth.com/
