It is a quiet corner in Highland Park. If you walk past 804 North Negley Avenue in Pittsburgh today, you might see the ghost of what used to be the heartbeat of the neighborhood. For over a century, the Stanton Negley Drug Company wasn’t just a place to pick up a plastic bottle of pills. It was where the pharmacists knew your name, your kids' names, and probably why you were sneezing before you even told them.
Then it all stopped.
In August 2025, the lights went out for good. It wasn't just another business closing; it felt like a death in the family for the locals. You’ve probably seen the headlines about "pharmacy deserts" or big chains swallowing up the little guys. But the story of Stanton Negley is a bit more complicated—and a lot more human—than a simple balance sheet.
The Rise and Fall of a Family Legacy
The history of this place is kind of wild when you look at the timeline. Some records suggest the business was incorporated way back in the 1880s. That’s older than the Ford Model T. For decades, it stood as a "corner drug store" in the truest sense.
The Simon family ran the show for a huge chunk of that time. Meyer Simon and his son, Steven Simon, were the faces of the operation. They weren't just business owners; they were the local experts people turned to when they didn't want to deal with the bureaucracy of a hospital.
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But 2024 was a brutal year for the family. Meyer Simon passed away, and shortly after, Steven Simon also died. Losing both leaders of a family-run business in such a short window is a heavy blow. By the time 2025 rolled around, the remaining family members had to make a gut-wrenching choice. They decided to close the doors on August 30, 2025.
Why the Small Guys Are Disappearing
Honestly, it wasn’t just the personal tragedy that did it. The Stanton Negley Drug Company was fighting a war on two fronts.
First, you’ve got the giant pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These are the middlemen who decide how much a pharmacy gets paid for a drug. Many independent pharmacists will tell you—off the record or right to your face—that they actually lose money on some prescriptions. Imagine selling a bottle of medicine for $50 when it cost you $55 to get it on the shelf. You can't run a business like that for long.
Second, the big chains like CVS and Walgreens have scale. They can absorb those losses in ways a single shop in Pittsburgh just can't. When you add in the rising costs of labor and rent, the math starts to look pretty ugly.
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The Controversy You Might Not Know About
Every long-standing business has its "it's complicated" moments. If you dig into the legal archives, the Stanton Negley Drug Company name pops up in some federal court documents from about a decade ago.
Back in 2013, Robin W. Simon (Meyer’s daughter-in-law) was involved in a federal case regarding the importation of an anti-cancer drug called Xeloda. She had been buying the drug from wholesalers in Europe and selling it through the pharmacy. While the drugs were real (manufactured by Roche), importing them without FDA approval is a big no-no in the eyes of the law.
She ended up paying $600,000 in profits back to the government and served two years of probation. It was a bizarre chapter for a neighborhood staple, but most locals seemingly moved past it because they valued the personal care they received day-to-day.
What Highland Park Lost
When a place like this shuts down, the impact is "sticky." It sticks to the elderly residents who can't easily drive to a Giant Eagle or a Walgreens. It sticks to the people who relied on their free delivery service.
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- Personalization: At Stanton Negley, you weren't just a barcode.
- Accessibility: It was right there. No massive parking lots or confusing aisles.
- Community Knowledge: The staff knew which neighbors needed extra help.
Navigating Life After Stanton Negley
If you were a regular there, you've probably already moved your scripts. But if you're looking for that same "small-town" feel in a big city, you have to be intentional about where you go next.
1. Look for Independent Cooperatives
Some pharmacies are part of groups like Good Neighbor Pharmacy. They are still independently owned but share resources to stay competitive with the big guys.
2. Ask About Delivery Services
One of the biggest perks of the Stanton Negley Drug Company was that they delivered. Before you sign up with a new place, ask if they have a dedicated driver or if they just use mail-order. There's a big difference in reliability.
3. Check Your Reimbursements
With the shifting landscape of Medicare and private insurance in 2026, some smaller shops are being forced out of "preferred networks." Always double-check that your new pharmacy won't charge you a higher co-pay just for the sake of convenience.
The loss of this pharmacy is a reminder that "convenience" usually comes at the cost of "community." You can get your pills anywhere, but you can't get a century of history at a drive-thru window.
Immediate Next Steps for Former Patients
- Verify Transfer Records: If you haven't filled a script since the August 2025 closure, call your doctor to ensure they have updated your preferred pharmacy on file.
- Audit Your Co-pays: Compare the prices you’re paying at your new chain pharmacy. If they are significantly higher, look for a local compounding pharmacy or a smaller independent shop that might have different PBM contracts.
- Support Local: If you want to prevent another "Stanton Negley" situation in a neighboring area, try to buy your over-the-counter goods (vitamins, bandages, soap) from the small shops, not just the prescriptions where their margins are razor-thin.