C.H. Henry | Less of a Pain When it’s a Chain

Across from Iron Gate Theatre, a steel frame stands above a live construction site. Loosely hanging from its perimeter fence is a welcomed announcement — "Coming Soon: Target." Little is known about its planned size or completion time, but nevertheless, Target’s introduction into University City will be a substantial change. For those tired of trekking to Rittenhouse, this new construction project is a long-awaited must for Penn.

For students and parents alike, one of Penn’s busiest and most convenient attractions is the Amazon Hub at 1920 Commons. With the click of a button, you, a friend, or a parent can order anything online and have it shipped to the center of campus. Without it, the only way to gather new school supplies would be costly trips to the South Philadelphia superstores or Uber rides to retailers north of Fairmount Park. Since 2016, Amazon@Penn has been the most convenient option. However, a Target could finally promote a bit of competition and opportunity.

Target and Amazon provide consumers with choice whereas most chains around campus like CVS, Wawa, or Starbucks offer a limited variety of snacks or medicine. Ask yourself a question: If in a rush, where could you buy a towel? Where could you find a pair of headphones? Where would you source a new coffee maker? What other store could sell you your next meal or outfit at the same time? Each question has a different answer, but with a chain store, they can be simplified to one: Target.

Chain stores make collegiate life easier because they are easily distinguishable, reliable, and discountable. Right now, the storefronts surrounding Penn lack name recognition, and this trend has been slow to change. McDonald’s was knocked down with distant plans to rebuild it, and Five Guys saw several classes graduate before opening its doors. With every step forward in new food options or convenience stores, we take another step back.

Some of this slow progress can be attributed to Penn’s willingness to expand its own campus over its effort to bring new businesses to the area. Of course, Penn should continue to update its facilities and modernize its own campus, but University City needs time to grow. A college town is just as important as the college, and for this reason, Target’s introduction to University City is a step in the right direction.

The obvious concern is that chain stores will outcompete small businesses that are unique to Spruce or Walnut streets. However, stores like Target fulfill a general niche: providing products that simply need to be available and reliable. Most small businesses around Penn provide unique cuisines of food or specialized products, so if there is any overlap among small businesses and their chain counterparts, it is not much of an issue.

Therefore, I say we should lean into accepting chain stores into University City, not just for the benefit of the students, but for the entire community. In the way that everyone latched onto the Commons Amazon hub, take advantage of what Target has to offer whenever construction on the building finishes. This store is your chance to order pickup and find deals — maybe even acquire a Target Red Card.

Particularly, this new location is the definitive answer to countless problems for incoming freshmen. Target promises an opportunity to make moving in much easier. Instead of overloading Amazon with requests or making a day trip out of buying a trash can, you could walk a couple blocks and buy everything you need in person. On-site stores will make move-in and daily life cheaper and more efficient; who can say "no" to that?

My only hope is that different specialized shops follow in line. A hardware store near campus would make finding a screwdriver, hose, or hammer a little bit easier than ordering online or taking a drawn-out trip to Lowes or Home Depot. Also, with all due respect to Urban Outfitters, a new, low-priced clothing store needs to find its way near campus, because shopping in Center City and thrifting on South Street should not be the go-to options for finding a pair of pants. Target will fill these holes in the market for the foreseeable future, but there is always room for another store.

C.H. HENRY is a rising College junior studying communications, diplomatic history, and theater arts from Nashville, Tenn. His email address is chhen@sas.upenn.edu.