Fresh Foods Take Center Stage at New Duane Reade Flagship Store

NEW YORK -- Forty Wall St., known as the "Crown Jewel of Wall Street," once held the title of the tallest building in the world. Now, it is home to a 22,000-square-foot Duane Reade flagship store that is one of the drugstore chain's most innovative locations to date, the company reported.

The new 24-hour store, scheduled to open tomorrow, has an "up market" focus, with health care, food and beauty offerings, plus exclusive services and amenities never before seen in a Duane Reade or any other drugstore.

"This store represents a milestone, with the best ideas of Duane Reade and Walgreens setting a new benchmark for health and daily living," said Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson. "As part of the Walgreens family of companies, Duane Reade is taking an important step in its highly visible re-branding initiatives with the opening of this store."

The store's offerings include a Sushi Station, featuring a chef and full menu from edamame to elaborate rolls; The Juice Market, offering freshly made specialty themed smoothies; a Starbucks coffee and fresh bakery counter; a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine dispensing 130 varieties of Coca-Cola fountain drinks; and an expanded natural and organic section containing fresh fruits, vegetables, wraps, sandwiches and salads made daily, including other products exclusive to Duane Reade.

"The fresh and healthy food offerings will be unparalleled within the drugstore industry," said Paul Tiberio, senior vice president of merchandising and CMO for Duane Reade. "As our customers shop across fewer retailers, we have positioned 40 Wall St. to best service the 'need-it-now' trips of the area's growing residential and professional populations, offering an 'up market' fresh food proposition and their one-stop shop solution."

Qualified medical attention will be on-hand with the company's signature, no-appointment-required "Doctor On Premises" service that provides urgent, affordable and quality health care, including Duane Reade's first pharmacy "Powered by Walgreens Pharmacy Network." The new system will link to Walgreens pharmacy system, the largest pharmacy network in the United States. New Yorkers, out-of-state residents and visitors may have their Walgreens pharmacy information available at this Duane Reade location. The store offers prescription "ready" text messaging.

An expanded beauty department will feature the award-winning LOOK Boutique, offering before/after virtual makeovers, skin analysis from Philips Crystalize and an automatic fragrance sampler that will allow customers to try more than 40 different scents on their wrists. A nail salon will feature manicures, gels, the latest colors from OPI and essie, and a hair salon by Phyto Universe with services like hair/scalp analysis, blowouts and styling from a certified hair care professional. High-end, salon grade skin and hair products and accessories will be available from Nuxe and other trusted brands.

The Virtual Assistant, custom designed for Duane Reade by Tensator, will welcome and introduce customers to the many new store features by utilizing the latest in holographic imaging and audio-visual technology to create the illusion of a real person.

For the professional on the go, a retro-styled, mahogany-polished shoe shine area is offered, and all proceeds from the shine will be donated to various New York-based philanthropic organizations through the Duane Reade Charitable Foundation. In addition, business enthusiasts will be able to browse the international newsstand stocked with papers from financial centers across the globe; power up at a cell phone charging station that will lock the device and charge while a customer shops; and take in important stock, news and sports feeds on the 20-foot official NYSE in-store ticker.

Other New York City conveniences available at the new flagship store include daily fresh flowers available for any occasion and the biggest Duane Reade/HP digital photo center to date.