If you’ve lived on the south side of Indianapolis for more than five minutes, you know the corner of Stop 11 and Madison Avenue. It’s a landmark. Not because it’s a historic monument, but because that CVS at 7935 S. Madison Ave is basically the heartbeat of that intersection. Whether you’re grabbing a last-minute birthday card or picking up a prescription after a long shift at St. Francis, it’s just there.
But lately? People are worried.
You’ve probably seen the headlines about CVS Health shuttering 900 stores. It started a few years back, and honestly, every time a lease comes up for renewal, the neighborhood starts whispering. Is the Stop 11 location next? It’s a valid question. The retail landscape in Perry Township is shifting faster than the traffic patterns on US-31.
The Reality of CVS at Stop 11 and Madison
Let’s be real: retail pharmacy is in a weird spot. You’ve got the rise of Amazon Pharmacy, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, and the fact that everyone and their mother is getting their prescriptions delivered via mail-order these days. This specific CVS, located at the intersection of Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue, faces some unique pressure.
It’s an older footprint.
Unlike the massive, shiny "HealthHub" versions of CVS you see in some of the wealthier suburbs, this one feels like a classic 2000s-era drugstore. It’s functional. It’s familiar. But in the eyes of corporate headquarters in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, "familiar" doesn't always equal "profitable."
Why this location is a survivor (for now)
There is a reason this store hasn't vanished like the ones downtown or in the struggling parts of the west side. Location. It sits right in the path of heavy commuter traffic. If you're heading home to Greenwood or Southport, that right-hand turn into the parking lot is incredibly convenient.
Plus, the proximity to the Franciscan Health Indianapolis campus is a huge factor. You can't underestimate the "discharge fill." When a patient gets released from the hospital, they don't want to wait three days for a delivery. They want their meds now. CVS at Stop 11 and Madison catches a massive chunk of that urgent business.
Why Do People Keep Thinking It’s Closing?
Rumors are a funny thing. Usually, they start because of a few empty shelves or a "Short Staffed" sign taped to the front door. We've all seen it. You walk in at 8:00 PM, the pharmacy line is six people deep, and there is one person working the front register.
It looks like the end.
But usually, it’s just the "Great Resignation" or whatever buzzword we're using this week for "nobody wants to work retail for fifteen bucks an hour." CVS has been aggressively cutting hours to satisfy shareholders, which leads to that "going out of business" vibe even when the store is doing just fine.
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The "900 Stores" specter
In 2021, CVS announced they would close about 300 stores a year for three years. That math is scary. When people hear "CVS is closing stores," they look at their local shop and assume the worst. In Indianapolis, we’ve already seen locations on the Northside and near the city center bite the dust.
However, the Stop 11 and Madison location serves a very specific demographic: older residents in Perry Township who aren't tech-savvy enough for mail-order. That "silver tsunami" of aging boomers is actually keeping many of these brick-and-mortar pharmacies alive. They need the face-to-face interaction with the pharmacist.
What the Data Says About Neighborhood Pharmacy Health
If you look at the commercial real estate data for the south side, the Madison Avenue corridor is actually holding its own. It isn't the trendy "Fountain Square" scene, but it's stable. The occupancy rates for retail strips near Stop 11 remain high.
- Foot traffic: Remains consistent during morning and evening rush.
- Competition: Walgreens is just down the road, creating a "pharmacy cluster" that actually attracts more shoppers to the area.
- Property value: Land on the south side is becoming more valuable as Greenwood expands north.
If CVS were to leave, that corner wouldn't stay empty for long. But for now, the store at 7935 S. Madison Ave remains a staple of the 46227-zip code.
The Frustrations: What Most People Get Wrong
We need to talk about the drive-thru. If you’ve ever sat in that line at 5:30 PM, you’ve probably considered walking into the woods and never returning. People think the long lines mean the store is failing or mismanaged.
Actually? It’s the opposite.
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Long lines mean high volume. The Stop 11 CVS handles a massive number of prescriptions daily. The bottleneck isn't a lack of business; it’s a lack of technicians. When you see a "Pharmacy Closed" sign at 2:00 PM on a Sunday, it’s not because they’re bankrupt. It’s because the pharmacist on duty didn't show up, and by law, the pharmacy can't open without one.
Surviving the "Retail Apocalypse"
The stores that survive the next five years are going to be the ones that pivot to services. You’ll notice this location doing more flu shots, COVID boosters, and shingles vaccines. That’s where the money is. The margins on a bottle of Advil or a bag of Peanut M&Ms are tiny. The margins on clinical services? Much better.
If you want to know if the CVS at Stop 11 and Madison is going anywhere, watch the clinic. As long as they are pushing vaccines and basic health screenings, they are likely safe.
Practical Steps for Southside Residents
Don't wait until you're out of your meds to check the status of your local pharmacy. If you're a regular at the Stop 11 location, there are a few things you should do to make your life (and the workers' lives) easier.
Use the app. Seriously. It’s 2026. If you're still calling in refills over the phone and waiting on hold for twenty minutes, you're doing it wrong. The app tells you exactly when the prescription is ready so you don't waste gas driving there for no reason.
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Consider the CarePass. If you spend more than $10 a month there anyway, it usually pays for itself. It also gives you access to free shipping, which is a great backup plan if the Stop 11 store ever does have a staffing crisis and you can't get to the drive-thru.
Check the hours before you go. Because of the aforementioned staffing issues, hours can change overnight. Google Maps is usually updated, but checking the official CVS website for store #6688 (that’s this one) is the most reliable way to avoid a wasted trip.
What to do if it ever closes
If the day comes where the "Store Closing" signs appear at Stop 11 and Madison, don't panic. Your prescriptions are digital. They don't just vanish.
- Transfer early: You can move your scripts to the Walgreens at Madison and Edgewood or the Meijer on US-31 within minutes using their respective apps.
- Ask for a 90-day supply: This buys you time to figure out a new routine if your primary store shuts down.
- Download your records: Keep a PDF of your current medications on your phone. It makes switching pharmacies a breeze.
The Southside of Indy is changing. Old buildings get torn down, new ones go up, and sometimes our favorite convenience spots move on. But for the moment, the CVS at Stop 11 and Madison is holding its ground, serving as a chaotic, busy, but essential part of the community.
Keep an eye on the staffing levels and the shelf stock. Those are your real "canaries in the coal mine" for the future of this location. If the shelves stay full and the pharmacists stay employed, that corner will remain a CVS for years to come.