Milwaukee Common Council proposal would direct city departments to pursue grocery and pharmacy retention strategies

Measure assigns new coordination role to city development and health agencies

A proposal introduced at Milwaukee City Hall would direct two city departments to play a more active role in keeping grocery stores and pharmacies operating in Milwaukee neighborhoods and in recruiting new operators where access has diminished.

The legislation, filed as Common Council file #251707, calls for the Department of City Development and the Milwaukee Health Department to work directly on strategies intended to attract and retain full-service grocery options and pharmacies in the city. The file has been assigned to the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee, where it is expected to receive initial consideration before any full Council vote.

Context: recent retail closures and access concerns

The proposal comes amid ongoing changes in the region’s retail landscape. In 2025, major pharmacy chain closures in Milwaukee drew public attention, including the shutdown of multiple locations within a relatively short period. Separately, grocery store closures announced in 2025 affected several sites in Milwaukee and nearby communities, raising questions about food access and transportation barriers for residents who rely on nearby stores for staples and fresh produce.

City policymakers have increasingly used the term “access” to describe the combined effects of store closures, distance to remaining retailers, and limited transportation options—issues that can affect older residents and households without reliable vehicles.

What the legislation would do

As drafted, file #251707 would formally instruct city staff—through the development and health departments—to help develop approaches for stabilizing existing grocery and pharmacy locations and accelerating efforts to recruit replacements when stores close. The measure frames the issue as both an economic development challenge and a public health concern, reflecting the role pharmacies play in prescription access and the role grocery stores play in access to nutritious food.

The sponsors’ stated intent is for city resources to be organized in a way that supports quicker engagement with retailers and operators, with an emphasis on neighborhoods facing reduced access.

• Primary departments named: Department of City Development and Milwaukee Health Department
• Policy focus: retention of existing stores and recruitment of new grocery and pharmacy operators
• Committee assignment: Community and Economic Development Committee

Sponsorship and next steps

The proposal is authored by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and co-sponsored by Alderwoman Andrea M. Pratt, Alderman Russell W. Stamper II, Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, Alderman Mark Chambers Jr., Alderman DiAndre Jackson, and Alderman José G. Pérez.

Committee review typically includes discussion of the scope of the directive, the capacity of departments to take on additional responsibilities, and potential coordination with existing economic development tools. If advanced, the measure would proceed to consideration by the full Milwaukee Common Council.

The legislation is framed as a directive for city staff to coordinate strategies aimed at keeping grocery and pharmacy services available in Milwaukee neighborhoods where closures have reduced local access.