Wednesday, February 17, 2010
FOR WHEN YOU REALLY NEED ASPIRIN AT 3 AM: Duane Reade, the NYC pharmacy chain that is almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks and McDonald's, is being purchased by Walgreens. Walgreens stores are inevitably better laid out (and typically much larger than) Duane Reade stores, and there are more than a few street corners in NYC with Walgreens and Duane Reade right next to each other. It'll be interesting to see how things consolidate.
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If they can take the best of these two stores, I'll be okay with this. Not a fan of either one, although the new Duane Reade's are a lot better.
ReplyDeleteThis is worse than when People's Drug became CVS. Granted, though, that that was pretty much neutral.
ReplyDeleteWe lost our local chain, Long's, to CVS last year. Same people, far as I can tell, but service dropped precipitously. Also, they added carpet to the floors, which struck me as a very weird change.
ReplyDeleteI was awfully sad when Long's got bought out by CVS, even though I no longer live in California. My mom insists that CVS is a nightmare compared to Long's.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'd be perfectly happy to see Duane Reade go away for good.
Odd; I prefer CVS over Walgreens here in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteNews reports this morning indicated the Duane Reade name will remain. Perhaps the styling with it.
ReplyDeleteI no longer live in NY but still would mourn the loss of DR. The brutal lighting, the five locations within six blocks of my apartment, indifferent service, pharmacists convinced I was the wrong sex, celebrity sightings, 24h locations, and shoplifters/crazies have a special, missed charm.
ReplyDeleteHere in NoVa I prefer Walgreens' service to CVS, but some of that could be accountable to Walgreens being new in the market.
ReplyDeleteSince we moved out of NYC four years ago (not that I don't still commute daily) what I miss the most about DR are the prices. Of course, I now have Target in my life.
ReplyDeleteHere on the upper westside I 've got Duane Reade a block away, CVS across the street and Walgreens two blocks up. I knew they were fighting to the death, but frankly wouldn't have picked Walgreens as the winner. Duane Reade just seemed the pushies of the bunch. Praying that if one of them closes we don't get yet another bank in the neighborhood. Please God.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I've been so excited to see RI-based CVS suddenly show up in California. Smells like childhood trips on a bike to buy Necco wafers.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Duane Reade for selling before the drugstore bubble pops completely. The building spree between Walgreen's, CVS and Rite Aid here in Detroit has been insane. Any major intersection corner lot that used to be anything other than a gas station has now been gobbled up by these monsters. The debt service will eventully crash them all (not just Rite Aid), I would think. And it's our health care dollars servicing that debt.
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