5th between 50th and 51st has a lot of plate glass now. The new Duane Reade is huge, shiny, clean, organized, stocked, and there are lots of staff members. The aisles are wide, strollers are allowed, and they sell beer - lots of it. There's a Chase ATM inside. Oh! And there are automatic sliding doors. Unfortunately, when we stopped in, there was also one of those freaky, shaking, blow-up doll people in front. They make me shudder almost as much as Spongebob Squarepants. Ugh.
The prices are not cheap. Duane Reade is not cheap. Something is rotten somewhere because several management types were arguing loudly in the middle of the store ("Not in MY Duane Reade!"). It feels a bit sterile and cold. According to one of the staff members, most of the people who work there are from far away from Sunset Park. That said, I bought a new flashing toothbrush for the toddler and a hair clip. I'll still buy my discounted greeting cards at Party Party, and I'll still head to Mini Max for the basics (also not cheap, but warmer, somehow). However, the wide aisles, well-organized stock, and variety (kitchen supplies, toys, beer, magazines, make-up, birthday cards, floss, and so on) will probably bring in the curious and keep a solid portion.
Have you been? What do you think?
9 comments:
at least it is better than rite aid- I'm in bay ridge and all we have is rite aid- it is kind of horrible (the one on 4th and bay ridge ave is not horrible, but not what I want)
I think that I'm jealous. I'm all full up on organized, sterile and cold. Who knew?
It really is amazing how Rite Aid just can't get things right (no matter which one you go to) I went out of my way to shop at the DR on 86th street, now they're 4 blocks away in SP! I must say, I still prefer the small pharmacies for prescriptions...I've been getting my prescriptions from the same pharmacy since I was a child growing up in SP. Nonetheless, still a great moment to see DR here.
It's a NYC chain at least. And it's something that will hopefully employ locals as it transitions over. I'd like to know what the yelling you describe was about though.
Have to disagree with you on two things: I like the blow-up shaking person things. And I like Spongebob.
I am happy they have such a nice variety of drinks, like Fizzy Lizzy and Izze and lots of root beer.
It's like a half Duane Reade, half bodega! They sell Goya beans and the big aluminum cooking pots.
Why oh why don't we have even one source of healthy food in Sunset Park????
What's the matter with Key Food (5th & 44th), C-Town (on 8th, NOT the one on 5th), or Costco for healthy food?
lol at Sunset Park A-Zone... because you can very well take the train to whole foods if you don't appreciate what is here. Or walk up to Fort Hamilton Avenue markets (which I do because I'm smack in the middle and I don't mind walking up or down avenues). I love my neighborhood, both the old and the new. Thank god for this place though; it adds another safety blanket if you will.... another place to get your essentials... Health Max on 5th Avenue is good too(which I love by the way)... P.S. Goya Beans are obviously for the native neighborhood residents (Latinos), the same way there are a bunch of polish and Czech places along 8th avenue. Please, don't live in a neighborhood that you can't openly embrace. nice blog by the way!
aren't they opening a gym on top of it?
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