You probably think you know exactly where Walgreens is based. If you’re a local, you might picture that massive, historic Old Post Office building in downtown Chicago with its river views and tech-hub energy. Or maybe you still think of the sprawling, classic corporate campus in the suburbs. Honestly, the answer has changed a lot lately, and it’s a bit of a whirlwind.
As of early 2026, Walgreens is headquartered at 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015.
That might sound like "business as usual," but it’s actually the result of a massive corporate retreat. After years of trying to make it as a hip, urban tech employer in the heart of Chicago, the company is officially pulling back to its suburban roots.
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The Big Move Back to the Burbs
It’s official. The grand experiment in downtown Chicago is ending. Just this January, Walgreens began shuttering its enormous office at the Old Post Office. We’re talking about 200,000 square feet of prime real estate that once housed 1,800 employees.
Why? Basically, the company is under new management and a whole lot of pressure to cut costs. After being taken private by Sycamore Partners in 2025, the new leadership—led by CEO Mike Motz—is consolidating everything. They aren't interested in paying Chicago rent when they already own (or lease) plenty of space in Deerfield.
For the employees, it’s a big shift. If you’ve been commuting to the Loop, your new "office" is now about 30 miles north.
What’s Actually at the Deerfield Headquarters?
The Wilmot Road location isn't just one building; it's a hub for the entire Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) ecosystem. While parts of the old, sprawling campus were actually demolished recently because they were outdated and expensive to maintain, the core operations remain centered here.
When you look at what happens behind those glass doors, it’s basically the "brain" of the pharmacy world:
- The Executive Suite: This is where Mike Motz and the new board call the shots.
- Tech and Pharmacy Ops: Even though the tech teams were the ones downtown, they are being integrated back into the Deerfield fold to streamline communication.
- Supply Chain Management: This is the massive machine that ensures your local store actually has Tylenol and prescriptions in stock.
A Campus in Transition
It’s kinda wild to see how much the physical footprint has shrunk. A few years ago, Walgreens was selling off chunks of its campus. One section, known as the "Lake Cook Road" property, was recently demolished by its new owners. It was easier to tear it down and start with a "clean slate" than to try and rent out half a million square feet of 1970s-style office space in a world where everyone wants to work from home.
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What’s left is a leaner, more focused headquarters. It’s less about having a "corporate palace" and more about survival and efficiency.
Why Deerfield Still Makes Sense
You might wonder why they don't just move to New York or somewhere else, especially since Sycamore Partners is a New York private equity firm.
The truth? Talent and history.
Walgreens has been a Chicago-area staple since Charles R. Walgreen Sr. bought his first drugstore on the South Side in 1901. Moving the headquarters away from the Chicago metro area would mean losing thousands of experts who know the pharmacy business inside and out. Plus, Deerfield is strategically located near other healthcare giants, making it a "Silicon Valley" of sorts for the pharmaceutical industry.
The New "Private" Reality
Since going private, the vibe at the headquarters has changed. There’s a lot less talk about "global synergies" and a lot more focus on the "front-end" of the store. If you’ve walked into a Walgreens lately and noticed things felt a bit... sparse... or that more items are behind plexiglass, those decisions are coming straight from the desks at 108 Wilmot Road.
The goal now is to fix the balance sheet. Sycamore Partners didn't buy the company to keep things the same; they’re trying to turn a profit in a world where Amazon and CVS are eating their lunch.
Actionable Insights for You
Whether you’re a vendor, a job seeker, or just a curious customer, here is what the headquarters situation means for you:
- For Job Seekers: Don't look for corporate roles in downtown Chicago anymore. If you want to work for Walgreens corporate, you’re looking at Deerfield or remote-hybrid roles.
- For Investors: Since the company is now private, you won't find a ticker symbol on the Nasdaq. You have to look at the performance of Sycamore Partners’ portfolio to see how the "Walgreens bet" is playing out.
- For Vendors: The centralization in Deerfield means procurement and partnership decisions are now under one roof. It’s actually easier to get to the right person now that the teams aren't split between the city and the suburbs.
If you need to send a formal letter or reach out to their corporate office for any official reason, the address at 108 Wilmot Rd, MS #2002, Deerfield, IL 60015 is your destination. Just don't expect to find the sprawling 80-acre campus of the 1990s—it's a much tighter ship these days.