Duane Reade Chain Sold to Walgreens
Did you know Duane Reade was founded by three brothers from Flatbush? Abraham, Eli, and Jack Cohen started the company, named after two streets in lower Manhattan, in 1960. The drug store chain has grown to 250 plus stores, with 26 in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Eagle reports that the Deerfield, Il.-based Walgreens will buy the…
Did you know Duane Reade was founded by three brothers from Flatbush? Abraham, Eli, and Jack Cohen started the company, named after two streets in lower Manhattan, in 1960. The drug store chain has grown to 250 plus stores, with 26 in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Eagle reports that the Deerfield, Il.-based Walgreens will buy the chain for $623 million, plus assume $457 million in Duane Reade debt, bringing the sale to a value of $1.08 billion. Walgreen’s says there are no plans to change the name…yet. How do you think this will affect you?
Duane Reade Just Sold, with Solid Presence in Bklyn [Brooklyn Eagle]
Photo from Bed Stuy blog
i loved walgreens when i lived in chicago a million years ago – liquor dept! the one on montrose in WB is pretty good – has parking even. however, the new Duane Reades are killer. they’re fancy! have one in soho and one at northside piers – both are pretty cool.
I hate Walgreens on Beverly Road in Brooklyn. They have the most ignorant pharmacy dept ever. I’ve called Walgreens corporate on them 3xs. The suck factor is so extreme.
Thanks, Minard. You know that will get you in trouble!!
Walgreens vs DR? Not much difference, imho. I can’t tolerate Rite Aid. Their stores are soooo nasty.
Montrosse, on the other hand, your song in the OT to the tune of “windy” is brilliant. Brilliant. I hardly ever read the OT. I’m not an official PLUSA, but I’m glad I glanced at it today!
Montrosse: I’m sure all the pharmacies in North Dakota are well stocked and huge and the workers super friendly. Bad analogy.
ditto Arkady’s comment. The clerks at DR are infintely worse at customer relations than those at CVS or elsewhere. Also, Duane Reade stores always seems so dirty.
I haven’t had clerks who were any worse than they are anywhere else, but have had awful experiences with a couple of their pharmacies. The one on Fulton Street and Jay is the worst. I don’t like the one in Restoration Plaza either. They don’t stock the most common drugs you’d think any pharmacy in New York City would have, this isn’t the middle of nowhere, South Dakota. Everything has to be ordered, and then picked up the next day. That’s absurd. On the other hand, when I worked in Noho, the DR on E.4th near B’way had a great pharmacy. Fast, efficient, and stocked. Figures.
oh yeah and the dollar rewards card… the new one seems slightly scammish. it used to be youd get 100 points then a 5 dollar coupon off your next purchase. well i have 133 points on my NEW card and i didnt get the 5 dollar coupon!? how many points do i need!? i also hate that you cant use those 5 dollar coupons on trashy low rent things like newports and phone cards. why is that?
*rob*