New pharmacy is not necessary

A pharmacy?

They've got to be joking.

Several of the venues in the Moravian Cafes are closing. For one reason or another, they failed to stimulate enough student interest to remain profitable, and so the University must now decide how to best use the space that they will vacate. So far, Penn intends to keep the remaining food outlets and install a pharmacy. While we're all for Penn students staying on their meds, this is ridiculous.

There is, after all, a CVS five blocks up Walnut Street. If CVS isn't your first choice of pharmacy, there's a Rite Aid just a few blocks west, also on Walnut Street.

There is a chance that Penn's interest in installing another pharmacy came in response to student feedback. If that is the case, then perhaps its time for Penn to give its students a little tough love. Walk to the CVS on 39th Street. It won't kill you, we swear.

It won't take much effort for the University to find a better use of that space. However, it probably won't be filled with a small local business, as Penn's current development plan involves bringing in larger national chains to fill larger retail spaces. While we believe Penn should continue to bring in local businesses as best it can, we understand that with that much real estate at stake the economic viability of the outlet is critical.

With that in mind, there are still plenty of businesses that would serve Penn students better than another pharmacy. An art supplies store would save many students multiple trips into Center City. A medium-priced furniture store would be a great resource, as students now must choose between the high prices of the Penn Bookstore's furniture and cheaper but perhaps less sturdy alternatives on Market Street. A high-end clothing outlet like J. Crew or Abercrombie & Fitch would no doubt be popular with undergraduates.

In the long term, Penn wants to turn University City into an extension of Center City. On the whole, retail is good for students, and development should continue. But another pharmacy is not the way to go.

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