Convenience closer to home

A new CVS opened yesterday under the Radian. Students expressed excitement about its proximity to the high rises and most off-campus student housing. The store is the first retail outlet to open under the Radian.

With the opening of the new CVS at 3925 Walnut St., beer pong just got a little more convenient.

The new location under the Radian - which opened yesterday - is one of the only CVS branches in the area to stock ping pong balls, along with the 25,000 other items usually found in the convenience stores, manager Jim Esmond said.

Students had quick praise for the store and its location on the west end of campus near the high rises and off-campus housing.

"It's a convenience store that is finally convenient," said David Stark, a sophomore in Wharton and the College.

According to Ed Datz, the executive director of real estate for Penn, focus group studies were conducted last year with undergraduate and graduate students on and off campus.

Along with area residents, students showed a "general interest" in bringing a CVS back to the location. Before construction began on the Radian, a CVS used to stand at 39th and Walnut streets.

Caroline Stern, a College sophomore who lives on Beige Block, is thrilled that there is "finally" a CVS nearby.

"It is phenomenal," agreed College sophomore Rachel Cohen, her housemate.

When faced with the option of going to the other on-campus CVS at 34th and Walnut streets, many students look forward to simply crossing the street.

College senior David Ashkenazi said the most exciting aspect of the opening was the accessibility to his house on 39th and Spruce streets.

In addition to location, CVS also took its client base into consideration. Esmond said the new store's clientele is expected to be split evenly between Penn students and members of the West Philadelphia community.

The store has a larger stationary and school supplies section than other locations, Esmond said. The grocery section - stocking milk and cereal - is also bigger than other CVS stores in the area.

Employees are West Philadelphia natives and college students alike. While no Penn students applied for a position, said Esmond, there are five Drexel students on staff as well as a number of local residents.

The new facility is bigger than the one that stands on the corner of 34th and Walnut streets. Compared to that CVS, the 39th and Walnut locale is "wider, brighter . and easier to navigate," said College junior Liora Pollick.

Comments (16)

I feel bad for all the sheletered Penn kids. The 43rd CVS location is a few feet closer than Koch's deli. It is not unsafe. Penn bike security guards patrol that area on a regular basis. Seriously people, west of 40th st is not the wasteland that people make it out to be. There are lots of things that are safe that people are missing out west of 40th st. Maybe if Penn kids stopped talking into their cell phones while texting on their blackberries and listening to their iPods they'd be more aware of their surroundings while becoming more "safe."

I don't know if other Penn kids are stupid or sheltered, but I will say that they're just f*cking lazy. Newsflash: complaining about having to walk two or three blocks further to get ping pong balls for drinking games, but still spending the entire next morning at pottruck on an elliptical machine to burn off the 1,500 calories from beer the night before, is pure laziness... (ok, and a bit stupid too)

what's more absurd is that there WAS a cvs where the new one stands 2 or 3 years ago...and it was leveled partly so that the university could get the radian built but also because of the one at 43rd and the newer one at 34th...so stupid

[QUOTE id="430441dd-183a-4f15-9a32-a5b08646c806"]Are these people idiots?? There is a HUGE CVS only 2 blocks from the Beige Block at 43rd & Locust. It's been there for 12 years. "Phenomenal?" Oh, please![/QUOTE] Alum- 43rd and Locust is a perfectly safe place for students. At all hours. Day and night. I live at this intersection, and we've never had a problem here. The same cannot be said for the very spot where the new CVS is located. Just a few years ago, a Penn student was SHOT inside Philly Diner, which was demolished and then moved to build the Radian. So, until my corner gets a bigger body count than 40th and Walnut, keep your "facts" to yourself. Period :)

West of 40th street is actually quite dangerous, especially in some areas (hundreds of people are murdered in West Philly each year, and so many crimes committed that the police don't even bother to respond to some crimes). Frankly, if you have to get off your cellphone, stop texting on your blackberry, and turn off your ipod to watch your back, you are in a dangerous area that probably shouldn't be in to begin with.

[QUOTE id="c305e944-d8a3-40ff-8e5c-12cda323d6b3"]West of 40th street is actually quite dangerous, especially in some areas (hundreds of people are murdered in West Philly each year, and so many crimes committed that the police don't even bother to respond to some crimes). Frankly, if you have to get off your cellphone, stop texting on your blackberry, and turn off your ipod to watch your back, you are in a dangerous area that probably shouldn't be in to begin with.[/QUOTE] Read actual crime statistics. No, really.

Here are the Philadelphia Crime Statistics, which lists the thousands of violent offenses committed this year to date in Philadelphia (2008): http://ucr.psp.state.pa.us/ibi_apps/WFServlet And here are the same statistics for 2007: http://ucr.psp.state.pa.us/ibi_apps/WFServlet Still want to tell me that Philadelphia/West Philadelphia (where a large percentage of the crimes are concentrated) is still a safe place to roam around?

394 murders. Couldn't find this year's statistics quickly. http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com/2008/01/2007-philadelphia-murder-rate-394.html

[QUOTE id="876fe648-c461-47df-998f-db8851cdc191"]394 murders. Couldn't find this year's statistics quickly. http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com/2008/01/2007-philadelphia-murder-rate-394.html[/QUOTE] While I'm not going to try to argue with the fact that many crimes do occur in West Philadelphia, I will argue that 43rd and Locust is hardly "West Philadelphia." In fact, 43rd and Locust is part of University City. Perhaps more importantly, and more telling of the ignorance of some of the commenters on this article of the issue at hand, Penn Alexander Elementary School is literally across the street from the said CVS. If this was not a safe area I doubt that Philadelphia parents would feel comfortable sending their students to this school. The fact that being in the Penn/Alexander catchment is a plus for homes on the market is enough to tell you that this area is in demand for many families, and that these families with children are moving into the area which would likely make it a safer place. The only thing I'm afraid of in walking to 43rd and Locust is being overrun by a mob of 3rd graders heading to the Ice Cream truck. The stigma with this area persistently draws a line between the community surrounding Penn and Penn itself. It's a shame that people don't utilize the incredible neighborhood around the University.

Are these people idiots?? There is a HUGE CVS only 2 blocks from the Beige Block at 43rd & Locust. It's been there for 12 years. "Phenomenal?" Oh, please!

Yes they are idiots. Most Penn students, especially those who live in the Radian are so rich and sheltered that they're afraid to go past 40th street, unless they're going to a frat, but even then only in a big group.

Seriously now. How can this article make no mention of that immense CVS on 43rd and Locust? For most students, it's closer than the 34th street one.

[QUOTE id="430441dd-183a-4f15-9a32-a5b08646c806"]Sorry, but 43rd and locust is not safe for a student, esp alone at night. Period. [/QUOTE] Sir, did you know you are objectively wrong? Period.

I live in the Radian and am thrilled about the new CVS in part because it is FREEZING outside in the winter and I am happy to minimize walking time. There is less Penn police presence near the 43rd street store which makes it less safe in my opinion. It would be nice if another store that we don't already have on campus had gone in under the Radian, but I'm thankful for whatever we can get. I am tired of people complaining about spoiled Radian residents. Most people living here are not very rich; rooms here are less expensive than some highrise apartments!

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