Walk down 69th Street in Upper Darby on a Tuesday afternoon and you’ll feel the rhythm of the place. It’s loud. It’s busy. Between the Tower Theater’s marquee and the constant hum of the SEPTA Transportation Center, this stretch of Delaware County is basically the beating heart of the local economy. For years, the 69th Street Rite Aid—specifically the one at 123 South 69th Street—was a massive part of that rhythm. If you needed a last-minute prescription, a gallon of milk before catching the El, or just somewhere to hide from the rain for five minutes, that was the spot.
But things are different now.
If you’ve been following the business news lately, you know Rite Aid hasn't had the easiest time. Between the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings that started back in late 2023 and the massive wave of store closures across Pennsylvania, people are understandably confused about which locations are staying and which are going. The 69th Street corridor has seen its fair share of retail turnover, but the pharmacy situation is particularly tricky because it’s not just about shopping; it’s about healthcare access for a neighborhood where many people rely on public transit.
The Reality of the 69th Street Rite Aid Right Now
Let’s be real: Rite Aid’s corporate restructuring has been a mess to track. The Philadelphia suburbs, especially Delco, were hit hard. When a company enters Chapter 11, they look at "underperforming" leases. In a high-traffic area like 69th Street, the rent isn't cheap.
The Rite Aid at 123 South 69th Street was officially added to the closure lists during the bankruptcy proceedings. It’s a blow. When you lose a primary pharmacy in a transit hub, it creates a "pharmacy desert" effect for the elderly residents in the nearby apartments who can't easily trek to the Giant or the CVS further down West Chester Pike.
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Honestly, it’s kinda heartbreaking to see the plywood go up. You’ve got people who have been seeing the same pharmacist for fifteen years. Suddenly, those records are being transferred—usually to a nearby Walgreens or another Rite Aid that managed to survive the cut—and the personal connection is just severed. The 69th Street Rite Aid wasn't just a corporate box; it was a landmark in a very dense, very social part of town.
Why did this specific location close?
Retail experts usually point to a "triple threat" of reasons for these kinds of closures. First, you have the corporate debt. Rite Aid was carrying billions in debt, partly due to legal settlements and partly from trying to compete with the sheer scale of CVS and Walgreens. Second, there’s the "shrink" issue. High-traffic urban and near-urban environments like Upper Darby have struggled with retail theft, which eats into already thin margins on things like snacks and cosmetics.
Third? It’s the real estate.
If a landlord thinks they can get a better tenant—maybe a health clinic or a government office—they might not be willing to negotiate on the lease terms during a bankruptcy restructuring. It’s a cold business calculation. You’ve also got the fact that 69th Street is undergoing a bit of a slow-motion transformation. There’s a push to modernize the area, and older, large-format drugstores sometimes don’t fit the new vision of "micro-retail" or service-oriented shops.
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Where to go for Prescriptions in Upper Darby Instead
If you were a regular at the 69th Street Rite Aid, you’ve probably already received a letter in the mail about your scripts. Usually, Rite Aid migrates your data automatically to the nearest location. But let’s look at the actual map because "nearest" in a computer system isn't always "easiest" for a human being.
- CVS Pharmacy on West Chester Pike: This is the most obvious alternative. It’s a short trip, but if you’re walking from the terminal, it’s a bit of a hike compared to the old spot.
- The Walgreens on Market Street: Just a few blocks away, this has become the de facto destination for the morning commuters. It’s often crowded now, for obvious reasons.
- Independent Pharmacies: This is the "pro tip." Places like Public Health Pharmacy or Upper Darby Family Pharmacy often provide much better service than the big chains. They actually know your name. They don't have the "corporate vibe."
It is worth noting that while the 69th Street location closed, some Rite Aids in the surrounding Philly area stayed open. But for the 19082 zip code, the landscape has fundamentally shifted. It’s weird seeing that corner empty. It feels like a tooth missing from a smile.
The Impact on the 69th Street Corridor
Business in Upper Darby is resilient. We’ve seen the Sears go, we’ve seen shops come and go, but the loss of a major anchor like Rite Aid changes the foot traffic. When people stop at the pharmacy, they also stop at the clothing stores next door or grab a slice of pizza.
Local business owners are watching this closely. There is a fear that empty storefronts lead to more empty storefronts. However, there’s also talk about what could replace it. 69th Street needs things that serve the community. Maybe it’s not another pharmacy. Maybe it’s an urgent care center or a community space.
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What most people get wrong about store closures
People always assume a store closes because it wasn't making money. That’s a huge oversimplification. Sometimes a store is profitable but the lease is too expensive relative to the profit. Or, in Rite Aid’s case, the store might be doing "okay," but the company needs to liquidate assets to satisfy creditors. It’s not always a reflection of the neighborhood’s health. In fact, 69th Street remains one of the highest-traffic pedestrian areas in the entire state of Pennsylvania.
Actionable Steps for Former Customers
If you haven't sorted out your transition from the 69th Street Rite Aid yet, don't just wait for the system to do it. Corporate transfers can be glitchy.
- Call your doctor today. Tell them to update your preferred pharmacy to a local independent shop or a closer chain. Don't wait until you're out of meds.
- Download your records. If you use the Rite Aid app, take screenshots of your prescription history and insurance info. Once a store is fully scrubbed from the system, getting that data can be a headache.
- Check out the 69th Street Transportation Center pharmacies. If you’re a commuter, look for the smaller stalls or nearby shops that offer quick pick-ups.
- Consider Mail Order. If you don't want to deal with the changing retail landscape in Upper Darby, switching to a service like Amazon Pharmacy or Cost Plus Drugs can save you the trip entirely.
The closure of the 69th Street Rite Aid is a chapter ending for Upper Darby retail. It sucks. It’s inconvenient. But the neighborhood is still moving. The trains are still running. You just have to change where you get your Tylenol and heart meds. Keep an eye on the local zoning meetings, too—what moves into that 123 South 69th Street spot will tell us a lot about the future of this district.