Here’s one for you. NPR’s All Things Considered has a story on a new concept for Walgreens. It seems the newest store in Chicago has gone upscale. Think bakery, specialty cheese counter, sushi, etc.
At a new downtown Walgreens, customers can get a fruit smoothie while they wait for their prescription — or even a manicure. Walgreens opened the new upscale version of its drugstore Tuesday on State Street to try to distinguish itself from the competition.
“You walk in, and the first thing you see is our sushi chefs preparing sushi throughout the day,” says Rob Ewing, district manager for Walgreens in Chicago. “This is not your grandmother’s Walgreens.”
Behind the sushi bar is a fresh bakery, a coffee bar, a juice bar, a self-serve frozen yogurt station and fresh produce. There’s a huge wine and liquor section, and even a humidor with cigars and other tobacco products.
If this gets rolled out nationwide, I’m going to have to transfer my prescriptions elsewhere. “Hmm… let’s see. I need Viagra, a tuna roll, blue cheese and foot cream.” Shudder.
