Credit: Google Maps
A longtime business in Upper Makefield Township’s Washington Crossing section has eyes on a move.
Heritage Pharmacy, which is located in the General Knox Commissary on General Knox Road off General Washington Memorial Boulevard, came before the Upper Makefield Township Board of Supervisors in January to present a preliminary sketch plan.
Heritage Pharmacy is looking at moving about 100 feet from the General Knox Commissary to the neighboring building on the corner of General Knox Road and General Washington Memorial Boulevard. The building houses Edward Jones Investments office and a now-empty space previously occupied by Jester Pool Services.
Ed Murphy, the attorney representing Heritage Pharmacy, explained the pharmacy owner, Manoj Parikh, wants to relocate from his businesses the current 1,800-square-foot space to a more efficient 1,600-square-foot location next to Edward Jones Investments.
Murphy said Parikh’s business already owns the building and Edward Jones Investments’ lease is expected to run into the next decade. The pharmacy is considering filling the vacant pool store location.
Credit: Google Maps
Heritage Pharmacy, which has been around for 25 years, has seen business shift from primarily in-person to a mix of in-person and a growing delivery pharmacy service, which requires less retail space and more back-end space, Murphy said.
Edward Jones Investments has seen foot traffic decrease due to the growth of virtual meetings and only has about two customers come in per day, while the pharmacy sees about five in-person customers each hour it is open, Murphy said.
Moving to the new space would allow Heritage Pharmacy to run better amid changing business conditions, Murphy said.
The pharmacy would create a second-floor office and design more storage space if they were able to move to the building that also houses Edward Jones Investments.
The planning commission in December and supervisors last month asked about parking at the property.
Murphy explained that the Edward Jones Investments building has 13 parking spaces and would lease a few for employees at the neighboring Wells Fargo Bank and possibly at the General Knox Commissary.
The supervisors heard the proposal, and Murphy said Parikh will still have to submit formal plans to the township for review.
Parikh said he has 18 months left on his lease and is weighing his options. He came before the supervisors to get feedback from township officials.
