The Urban Outfitters location at 110 South 36th Street closed on Dec. 24, 2023.
Credit: Chenyao LiuThe Urban Outfitters on 36th and Sansom streets closed in late December 2023.
Urban Outfitters has a long-standing history with Penn, as co-founder and Wharton alumnus Scott Belair used the brand to fulfill a class project while at the University in the 1970s. The closest Urban Outfitters for Penn students is now the Center City location near 16th and Walnut streets.
The first Urban Outfitters store originally opened as Free People's Store in 1970 at 4307 Locust Street and moved to 4040 Locust Street in 1976. The 4040 Locust Street location closed in 1997, citing "economic issues." Urban Outfitters later found a home a few doors from the Penn Bookstore.
At a 2005 event on Penn's campus, Hayne attributed part of the store's initial success to its University City location, citing the quantity of nearby students and lack of competitors.
Corporate offices declined to comment on the reason for this location’s closing.
The relocation of the store surprised students who frequented Urban Outfitters as their go-to spot for a fun distraction and last-minute shopping.
College first-year Nicole Diner shared her disappointment with the store's closing and praised its convenience.
"It was nice to have on campus a place that you can go shopping where a lot of people like, and can find something that they like, and don't have to go all the way into Center City or Rittenhouse," Diner said.
College first-year Maya Leyzarovich similarly mentioned the location's convenience, stating that she frequently went to Urban Outfitters for "any last minute outfits or accessories."
"Even though there is [a location] in Center City, it really won't be the same because you have to Uber to get there," Leyzarovich said.
While Wharton first-year Remy Capers similarly expressed sadness at the store's closing, she praised what she called a "huge sale" before its closing.
The space is currently unoccupied, and the next store to replace Urban Outfitters is still unknown.
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