SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

When Walgreens opened its 7,000th storefront right here in Sheepshead Bay, many residents were elated to see the national chain making a push into our area. Similar anticipation surrounds the opening of their Bragg Street and Avenue U location, slated for March.

But few would’ve guessed that just months later a business deal might lead to the closing of several area locations of pharmacy chains.

It was announced this morning that Walgreens purchased the New York City-based Duane Reade franchise for $1.1 billion.

For Sheepshead Bay, the deal means a handful of redundant locations may be closed. The turn of events could leave dozens of Sheepshead Bay residents unemployed, and will leave several large commercial lots empty during an economic recession.

The map below shows the current locations of Walgreens and Duane Reade storefronts in the Sheepshead Bay/Brighton Beach/Marine Park/Midwood area. Walgreens has nine locations (including the unopened Bragg Street store) marked in blue. Duane Reade has ten locations marked in green.

View Sheepshead Bay Walgreens & Duane Reades in a larger map

While the Brighton Beach and southern portion of Sheepshead Bay appear to be clear of duplicity, areas to the north have quite a few overlapping spots – including the newly-built Bragg Street Walgreens.

On Kings Highway, Duane Reade faces off with Walgreens on opposite corners of the same intersection, and there are two more Duane Reades just blocks away. On Avenue J, they’re also placed across the street from each other.

On Avenue U, Walgreens competes with Duane Reade near the Q train station, as well as between Nostrand Avenue and Gerritsen Avenue, and again near Kings Plaza.

Walgreens has not said whether they’ll be closing redundant locations, but it’s safe to assume that at least some will close.

Courtesy of MarineParker.net

We’ve been getting a lot of e-mails asking if we knew when the planned Walgreens on Avenue U and Bragg Street will open up, so we contacted management to ask. They’ve finally answered us and the plan is to open doors in the middle of March.

As MarineParker.net points out, the Bragg Street location will have a parking lot for 27 cars and landscaping, much like the Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W store. Unlike that store, which was the 7,000th Walgreens in the nation, there is no special grand opening planned. It’ll be a humdrum day with a few managers from the district office to welcome customers.

Arthur shamelessly advertises his car service, thinking the editors will never notice

Remember all that Walgreens coverage we brought you this past summer and fall? Well, here’s a little more for you.

Starting Saturday, December 19, the Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W location will remain open an extra two hours every day – to close at midnight – until Christmas Eve, on which it will close early at 6 p.m. Hey, Walgreens’ employees deserve some family time, too!

Additionally, way back when Sheepshead Bites first started coverage of Walgreens we suggested that they install a sturdy bench outside to give their customers and pedestrians a place to rest while waiting for the bus, especially if they are carrying heavy bags. Well, it looks like they decided to follow my advice! That’s pretty awesome. You know folks, I gotta say, so far my only complaint as a consumer about this location is that they constantly run out of ketchup. I mean, seriously, four rows for mayonnaise and only one for ketchup?! C’mon!

The Coney Island Avenue Walgreens (at Avenue W) may have opened for business almost a month ago, but they held off on their grand opening until today. After visiting we could see why there was a delay. The event was overloaded (in a good way) with vendors, clowns, soap opera stars, a cappella songsters, snacks, politicians, and the tremendously talented Brooklyn Steppers (oh my!). Get there before the rain, and you may still be able to receive one of the free goodie bags they’ve been giving out. But don’t put anything down for a second – Ray is still fuming over some scoundrel’s successful theft of her potato chips. That thief was a pUTZ!*

*Sheepshead Bites apologizes for any seizures, strokes, or aneurysms caused by our terrible puns. Simultaneously, we deny any responsibility in such an incident.

See photo gallery after the jump.

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For those not following the conversation on our old Walgreens post, Sheepshead Bay’s fifth location of the pharmacy chain opened on Friday, September 4.

The photo above, came in from Kismet via Twitpic/Twitter, and she says the “atmosphere was super friendly, everyone was helpful and pleasant.” In the comment stream, others seem to be saying the same. It appears Walgreens’ 7,000th location is a big hit in the ‘hood, and pulled in more than $9,000 in front-end purchases on the first day.

This Walgreens, on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W, opened two weeks ahead of schedule, according to commenter “walgreens mgt” – who we can only assume is Walgreens’ savvy social networking flack. He/She (My gut says “she.” Care to confirm, flack?) says a grand opening is coming before October 1, probably around September 28. Walgreens CEO, Greg Wasson, will visit to tour the store.

It appears as if the exterior work on the Walgreens going up on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W is almost done. Construction started about six months ago, notes Lisanne Anderson, who shot the above photo, and looks as if it may open sometime mid-summer.

This will be Walgreens’ fifth location in the area. Last June, they bought out Morris’ Drug Store on East 17th Street, where they expanded the store last month by removing the wall separating it from the next storefront, which is part of the same building. There is also a branch on the corner of Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue, in the building that formerly housed the Kingsway Theater, and another branch at Brighton Beach Avenue at the intersection of Coney Island Avenue. Their branch at West 5th Street and Neptune Avenue was probably their only Brooklyn store previously, having been there at least since the late seventies, if not earlier.

Thanks to Lisanne for the information.