UNION SQUARE UPDATE: Duane Reade To Take A Bite Of The Virgin

On the eve of Nordstrom Rack's long awaited opening, our friends at Racked have ascertained that much of the former Virgin Megastore on the street level that we thought would be occupied by the outlet chain will in fact be taken by the new, Walgreen's powered Duane Reade, which seem to be on new spree of mopping up available retail space downtown.

Now there are more than a few New Yorkers who are easily peeved at the rampant proliferation of the ubiquitous drugstore chain, which frankly has never particularly bothered The Shophound. You may call it excessive that there are four Duane Reades within a couple of blocks of our house. We like to think of it as convenience.

In this case, however, there is already a large Duane Reade nearby on 14th Street between University Place and Fifth Avenue as well as a Walgreen's less than a block away at 14^th Street and Fourth Avenue. Will this new Duane Reade be replacing or in addition to the one down the street? More importantly, will it be your standard (though recently majorly upgraded) boilerplate DR, or will it be another version of the pumped up market/drugstore hybrid concept that recently opened on Eighth Avenue in Chelsea?

Drastic Duane Reade Shortage Solved By Rack's New Neighbor (Racked)
Previously:
Revelation: Nordstrom Rack Will Live Downstairs