Another day, another ominous sign for a Lincoln Square store catering to middle class people.
The Rite Aid at 210 West 70th street on Amsterdam Avenue now has a “for rent” sign on it. Upper West Sider Michael Vooss took the photo above on Monday. A manager at Rite Aid told us that we’d have to call the folks at the corporate office to find out more. They didn’t return our call.
This comes one day after we learned that the Food Emporium on 68th will close in May.
We had heard that the store was in trouble and could close. One of our tipsters overheard a manager saying they hope to stay in the neighborhood. Let’s hope so; they have some great cereal deals, and I even remember seeing 50-cent candy there a few weeks back. Fifty-cent candy!
Anyone else know the status and timing? Let us know.
Rite Aid is one of the city’s best bargains, often with better deals even than Wal Mart or other big box megastores. I never shop at Duane Reade because everything is much cheaper at Rite Aid. Yes, the stores are often on the shabby side and the customer service can be nonexistent, but the prices keep me coming. What a shame.
For those that are not aware “Rite Aid” Inc./Corp. own that chain and Walgreens. About a year or so ago they bought Duane Reade. Since then they have been closing the overlapping store locations. They did this at B’way and 96-98th street last year. There was a Rite Aid, Walgreens and Duane Reade all within one and a half blocks on the same side of B’way. They left the Walgreens open as it was the newest store with the longest left on its lease. This has nothing to do with “fewer shops for the middle class to shop in”, its just common sense. The UWS is always carrying on but getting rid of chain stores, so this should make those folks happy. As a life long resident of the UWS 47 years, I would not classify many of the people living in the area of this store as “middle class”.
Walgreen owns Duane Reade, but Rite Aid is a separate company. Both Walgreen and Rite Aid are publicly traded companies.
Another big box drug emporium leaving? No big loss. Maybe with the loss of Food Emporium we can get a regular supermarket.
Years ago, that space was a Red Apple supermarket. Interesting however that next door – same landlord – Ehrlich’s Wines and Liquors and the dry cleaners along side it have endured – over 20 at least.
I thought we all hate the drug stores and banks that are populating the UWS. So I am not sure why now everyone is lamenting the loss of Rite Aid? How many more drugstores are in a 2 block radius? Are we just worried that (gasp)something loftier might move in?
My take-away from the above was not an overwhelming sense of loss with the closing of Rite Aid.
There is a huge (60 stories +/-)residential tower slated to rise on the former synagogue site directly to the south of the closing Rite Aid. I’m can’t imagine they will have any trouble finding an upscale tenant for the Rite Aid location.
60+ stories. Really!
The mayor must be on cloud nine. His goal to force out all the middle class and working people is almost attained.
Rite Aid is broke. They lost $368 million last year and over $1 billion in the two prior years. This is not about the Mayor or about the middle class, its basic economics. CVS and Walgreens (who bought Duane Reade) have survived the drug store wars and Rite Aid is on life support.
The store lasted FAAAAR longer than it should have; I stopped going in there years ago. If – and that’s a big if – they had what I was looking for, the checkout lines were so long that I left anyway. Surely, we don’t need another nail salon, but better such stores exist in the neighborhood.
I hate big chain stores. However, I will miss the Rite Aid on 70th. The workers have always been very helpful to me. Three big problems:
(1) the store is shabby — not shabby chic, just plain old run down and unattractive, (2) they never have any of the items in stock that are “on sale” — even when they do, the stock is so minimal. If the item goes on sale at 12:01 a.m. on Sun., if will be sold out by 12:02 on Sun., and (3) the mangers are down right rude.
Also, the manager will nice price match if you show them the same item cheaper at another store. One mgr. actually told me if the item is cheaper at Duane Reade just go buy it there.
Duane Reade cheats you. No matter what the price is on the shelf — you always pay more.
Check your receipts. The help is rude. They make no effort to help you and tell you “we never carry that item” even when you show them the sales flyer. I once had to rip the sales banner off the shelf to prove to them that they actually sold that item.
Since Walgreens took over D/R. Prices are insane. I used to buy an OTC drug for #12.99 (D/R)– Walgreens price same item $21.99.
CVS friendly, clean, modern stores, good prices; but their frequent customer program sucks!!
Bets are it will be a bank.
I literally had a mouse run over my foot while in one of the aisles there. It always smells bad too. Good riddance!