A small but beloved San Francisco drugstore is saying goodbye for good. Central Drug Store, which resides in the city’s Excelsior District, is shutting its doors for the final time on July 15, 2025, after an impressive 117 years of service.
While other big-chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have been closing locations all across the country, this little, family-owned store managed to ride out the storm—until lately.
A piece of history cuts its losses
It is not only a drugstore. It’s the history of the town. The drugstore was established over a century ago and has been in the same location ever since. It’s the oldest Excelsior district merchant.
Current owner Jerry Tonelli bought the store from his parents. He has been there since he was a teenager and has been a pharmacist for almost 50 years. In an emotional Facebook post, he announced that he was retiring, as well as the last days of the store.
He wrote:
It is with a heavy heart that I am providing my notice of retirement. Central Drug Store is closing permanently on July 15, 2025.
Surviving the giants
Despite being small, Central Drug Store survived the world’s largest pharmacy giants.
Tonelli boasted proudly:
“We’re a little but mighty pharmacy. And we’re happy to say we’ve survived Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, and mail-order houses.”
But with no family to whom he might be able to sell the business, Tonelli closed his doors. He said he is happy to retire on his terms, looking to spend more time with loved ones.
A wave of pharmacy closures
National pharmacy chains are undergoing a radical metamorphosis:
- CVS is closing 900 stores in a three-year restructuring effort. It claims it wants to focus on digital services and health care.
- Rite Aid went bankrupt for the second time and is closing or selling over 1,200 stores after years of financial woes.
- Walgreens also closed dozens of stores across 17 states and continues restructuring.
These shutdowns are shortchanging communities of a neighborhood pharmacy—a trend researchers are calling “pharmacy deserts.”
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Goodbye to a friend
The walls of Central Drug Store are lined with yellowed pictures and trinkets of bygone years. Consumers who enter the store don’t just see a pharmacy—they see memories, milestones, and a familiar neighbor.
As July 15 draws near, San Franciscans are stopping by to say goodbye and thank you. Central Drug Store is closing its doors, but its heritage in San Francisco can never be closed.
