You’ve seen the headlines about San Francisco. Usually, they’re about another big-box store boarding up or a "retail apocalypse" narrative that paints the city as a ghost town. But then you walk by the Walgreens at Polk and Broadway San Francisco, and it’s... just there. It's open. It's busy. It’s basically the heartbeat of that corner.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a survivor. While other locations across the city have shuttered—blamed on everything from organized retail theft to massive corporate restructuring—this specific spot at 2120 Polk Street remains a local anchor. It sits right on the edge of Russian Hill and Nob Hill, a place where people actually live, work, and, well, need their prescriptions filled at 8:00 PM on a Tuesday.
What’s the Real Deal with the Walgreens at 2120 Polk Street?
If you’re looking for this store, don’t confuse it with the one further down at 1524 Polk. That one was on the "chopping block" list during the big 2025 closure wave. The store at the northeast corner of Polk and Broadway—Store #5599—has managed to keep its doors open while others around it fell like dominoes.
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Why? It’s all about the footprint. This location serves a high-density neighborhood that doesn't have a massive Target or Safeway right next door. It’s the place you go for a last-minute birthday card, a bottle of overpriced wine, or your flu shot.
Current Store Logistics
- Location: 2120 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109.
- Store Hours: Usually open 8 AM to 10 PM daily.
- Pharmacy Hours: Closes a bit earlier, typically around 9 PM on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends.
- Services: It’s got the whole works—photo lab, FedEx drop-off, and a surprisingly decent selection of frozen meals for when you’re too tired to cook.
The San Francisco Retail "Crisis" and This Corner
Let's be real: Walgreens has had a rocky relationship with San Francisco lately. Back in early 2025, the company confirmed it was closing 12 more stores in the city as part of a massive 1,200-store nationwide shutdown. People were freaking out. They saw the boards going up on Powell Street and Geary Boulevard and assumed every Walgreens was toast.
But the Walgreens at Polk and Broadway San Francisco didn't make that list.
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There’s a lot of debate about why some stay and some go. Critics say the company uses "theft" as an excuse to close underperforming stores with high rent. Others point to the very real viral videos of brazen shoplifting. The truth is usually somewhere in the messy middle. At Polk and Broadway, the "foot traffic to theft" ratio seems to still make sense for the corporate accountants.
Plus, the pharmacy business is sticky. Once you have your prescriptions at a specific location, you’re way less likely to switch. That recurring revenue keeps the lights on even when people are just "showrooming" the snacks.
Surviving the "Pharmacy Desert" Fear
When a pharmacy closes, it’s not just an inconvenience. It’s a health crisis for seniors who can’t easily trek ten blocks uphill—and in San Francisco, "blocks" usually means "mountains."
Residents around Polk and Broadway were understandably nervous when the Nob Hill location at 1524 Polk faced closure threats. If that one goes, the pressure on 2120 Polk increases. You end up with longer lines, overworked pharmacists, and that general feeling of a store being "stretched thin."
Why this location is unique:
- The "Commuter" Factor: It’s right on the 45 Union and 19 Polk bus lines. It’s a natural stop-off point.
- The Grocery Gap: While there are small markets nearby, this Walgreens provides the "basics" (milk, eggs, toilet paper) at a price point that isn't quite "boutique Russian Hill" pricing.
- The Pharmacy Hub: It handles a massive volume of scripts for the local medical offices nearby.
Practical Insights for Locals
If you’re a regular at the Walgreens at Polk and Broadway San Francisco, you’ve probably noticed the changes. The plexiglass. Oh, the plexiglass. Almost everything is behind a lock and key now, from the Tide pods to the deodorant. It’s annoying, yeah. You have to ring a bell and wait for a tired employee to come over with a key.
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But if that’s the price of keeping the store open in 94109, most neighbors seem willing to pay it.
Pro-tips for a better visit:
- Avoid the 5 PM rush. This is when the commuters hit, and the single open register can develop a line that snakes back into the greeting cards.
- Use the app for prescriptions. Don't just show up and hope. The "Ready for Pickup" notification is your best friend here.
- Check the FedEx hours. Sometimes the FedEx desk closes earlier than the actual store, which can be a total pain if you're trying to drop off a return at 9:45 PM.
The landscape of retail in San Francisco is shifting. It’s not necessarily "dying," but it’s certainly getting leaner. The Walgreens at Polk and Broadway is a prime example of a store that has found the sweet spot of being just essential enough to survive the corporate scythe.
If you need to move your prescriptions or check if a specific item is in stock, your best bet is to call the store directly at (415) 474-9752. They’re usually pretty good about checking the shelf if you’re polite. For those living in Russian Hill, keeping this location viable means actually shopping there—even if waiting for the plexiglass to be unlocked takes an extra three minutes of your life.
Support the local footprint by using the pharmacy services primarily, as those are the hardest to replace if the store ever joins the closure list. Checking the "Weekly Ad" on the Walgreens app before you go can also help you snag deals that make the trip more "worth it" than a quick Amazon order.