Historic San Francisco Pharmacy Closes After Century of Service

Central Drug Store, a family-owned pharmacy that has served San Francisco residents since the early 1900s, has permanently closed its doors. The closure marks the end of an era for the neighborhood institution as owner Jerry Tonelli retires after dedicating 50 years to the business. The pharmacy stood as one of the city’s longest-running independent drugstores, weathering decades of economic changes, healthcare transformations, and neighborhood evolution before finally closing shop this month.

A Century of Community Service

Central Drug Store began operations in the early 1900s, establishing itself as a cornerstone of healthcare in San Francisco. For generations, the pharmacy provided medications, health advice, and personal service to local residents. Jerry Tonelli, who has owned and operated the store for the past five decades, became a trusted figure in the community. Many customers relied on his pharmaceutical knowledge and the store’s personalized approach to healthcare—something increasingly rare in today’s chain-dominated pharmacy landscape. “We knew our customers by name. We knew their families, their medical histories, and their needs,” Tonelli reportedly told customers during his final weeks of operation.

Independent Pharmacies Face Mounting Challenges

The closure of Central Drug Store reflects broader trends affecting independent pharmacies nationwide. Small pharmacies face significant pressures from several directions:

Competition from large pharmacy chains with greater purchasing power
The rise of mail-order prescription services
Declining reimbursement rates from insurance companies
Increasing operational costs

According to industry data, thousands of independent pharmacies have closed across the United States in the past decade, with urban areas like San Francisco seeing particularly sharp declines.

Community Response

The news of Central Drug Store’s closure has prompted an outpouring of support from longtime customers. Many neighborhood residents expressed concern about losing access to the personalized care they received from Tonelli and his staff. Local healthcare providers have also noted the gap left by the pharmacy’s closure. Dr. Sarah Chen, who practices medicine nearby, stated that independent pharmacists like Tonelli often serve as frontline healthcare advisors in communities, particularly for elderly residents who may have limited mobility or healthcare access.

“Independent pharmacists do much more than fill prescriptions. They spot potential drug interactions, advise on over-the-counter medications, and often notice when patients might need additional medical attention.”

The Future of the Location

The building that housed Central Drug Store sits in a commercial district that has seen significant changes in recent years. While no official announcements have been made regarding future tenants, commercial real estate experts suggest the space will likely be repurposed. The pharmacy’s closure leaves just three independently owned drugstores remaining in this district of San Francisco, down from twelve such businesses two decades ago. For Tonelli, the decision to close came after years of consideration. At 75 years old, he found no family members interested in continuing the business, and selling to a chain pharmacy would have meant the end of the personalized service model he valued. As San Francisco loses another piece of its commercial history, residents are left to reflect on the changing nature of neighborhood businesses and community healthcare. Central Drug Store’s legacy lives on in the memories of the generations of San Franciscans who crossed its threshold seeking care, advice, and the human connection that defined this century-old establishment.