Walgreens Plans to Move into Old Post Office

Pretty big news from last week (via Chicago Tribune):

Walgreens plans to relocate 1,800 employees to Chicago’s former main post office, including 1,300 workers who will move from its north suburban headquarters campus.

The Deerfield-based drugstore giant on Friday confirmed it has leased about 200,000 square feet in the building at 433 W. Van Buren St., a day after the Tribune first reported the deal. Walgreens Boots Alliance said it will move into the massive riverfront building, now known as the Old Post Office, in fall 2019.

In addition to the 1,300 jobs moving from Deerfield, about 500 employees working in a downtown office in the Sullivan Center — the former Carson Pirie Scott building on State Street — will move to the new space. Walgreens will maintain its headquarters in Deerfield, which will house 3,200 employees.

There have been some rumors about this for awhile (see post from Sloopin back in 2014), so it seems like Walgreens has had their eye on this building.  All in all, seems like a pretty good development for the neighborhood if you're an advocate of 'more people means more things to do'.  

The flip side of that is more congestion.  We've been saying this for awhile, but hopefully there are some plans for additional east/west routes (maybe at Taylor?).

Additionally, it appears that Amazon won't be coming to this building - which really doesn't come as a surprise.  Bigger question is whether or not Chicago has any shot at landing Amazon.

Regardless, nice to see some positive movement announced for the Post Office.