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?
