Chain Drugstores

Typical Chain Drugstore

Typical Chain Drugstore design, which breaks up historic street fronts and endangers a town's character. Learn More

Typical

Adaptive Reuse

An example of a chain drugstore's reuse of an historic building in Philadelphia, PA. Learn More

Adaptive

Saved Buildings

A proposed chain drugstore jeopardized these historic homes in Chalfont, PA. After petitioning the development, citizens of Chalfont were able to save their town’s historic architecture from demolition. Learn More

Saved

Modified Design

A Moorestown, NJ example of a chain drugstore's modified design, adding detail and external lighting to blend with the town's character. Learn More

Modified

Chain drugstores are expanding rapidly into traditional American downtowns and urban neighborhoods. Research of the National Trust Mainstreet Center has shown that drugstore chains can play a role in revitalizing older downtowns. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased to see these investments by chain drugstores in situations where they are welcomed by the community and do not threaten a town's character or historic integrity.

Unfortunately, chain drugstores have frequently demolished significant structures, replacing them with freestanding suburban-style stores whose design - seas of parking, drive through windows, blank exteriors, and one story scale - disrupt the traditional main street. Even when stores use vacant land, their prototypical boxes are inappropriate for pedestrian-oriented downtowns. Generic design, disregard of scale, and the destruction of historic properties greatly damages a community's unique sense of place.

The Role of the National Trust for Historic Preservation 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has taken a number of steps to help communities protect historic buildings from this threat. We have published Better Models for Chain Drugstores (available from Preservation Books), placed "the Corner of Main and Main" on 1999's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and met with the leadership of the largest chains, obtaining written commitments from CVS/pharmacy, the former Eckerd company, Rite Aid, and Walgreens not to demolish sites individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation learns of proposals that threaten historically and architecturally significant buildings not listed in the National Register, we discuss the plan with designated high-level liaisons at that company. Holding these meetings early in the development process, before a major fight erupts at the local level, allows the National Trust for Historic Preservation to work with the chain and the community to help find alternatives to the proposed demolition.

Share Your Story

Please help the National Trust for Historic Preservation track how chain drugstores are preserving or jeopardizing historic buildings and character in your community. Fill out the Share Your Story form and return it, along with any photographs or clippings you may have, to the Northeast Office.

Compatible New Drugstore Design

The National Trust for Historic Preservation develops approaches and resources to help communities respond to chain drugstores. The Compatible New Drugstore Design Tipsheet identifies design issues to create a drugstore that is most compatible with a community's character.

Protecting Your Community

The National Trust for Historic Preservation helps communities respond to chain drugstores. We have created the documents listed below to give citizens the knowledge they need to protect their community and to work out win-win solutions with chain drugstore companies. If there is a threat in your community, please contact your Regional Office.

Resources

 

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