London Drugs shuts Downtown Eastside store, citing safety and operational conditions

VANCOUVER — Retail giant London Drugs says it is shutting down its location in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside as of Feb. 1, citing a “careful assessment of safety and operational conditions” at the store.

President Clint Mahlman says in a statement that the store in the Woodward’s building “faced persistent safety incidents and significant operating losses” and keeping it open is not sustainable.

He says the Vancouver Police Department did targeted patrols, hired a neighbourhood liaison and held joint safety walk-throughs, which helped reduce violent incidents against staff, but customer traffic did not return.

London Drugs says in a statement that it will offer employees opportunities to transfer to nearby stores or to explore roles elsewhere in the company.

It says the company will also assist patients with prescription transfers.

B.C.-based London Drugs was founded in 1945 and includes 80 locations across Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2026