The corner pharmacy is a fading business. Not long ago, at the corner of almost every major intersection, you could find a Walgreens, CVS, or Rite-Aid. Sometimes you could find two. However, most big-brand pharmacies have shuttered hundreds of locations around the country, including here in Tucson. Filling prescriptions at grocery stores is far more convenient for many, and the products sold inside often come at significantly lower prices. The introduction of Amazon’s new prescription delivery service will only quicken the demise of these store brands. Closure does sprout new opportunities though, as a new business is moving into a space vacated by a long-closed CVS.
In 2022, CVS Pharmacy closed at 8705 East Speedway Blvd. This is the intersection of East Speedway and North Camino Seco. In the two years since its closure, the building has sat dormant. Outside of Los Bertos Mexican Food across the street, the neighborhood on the east side of Tucson has remained without many grocery options. That will soon change, at least somewhat, as Dollar Tree signed a lease for the address.