Duane Reade

As time passed they kept on a downward slide. Less staff, dirty aisles, dust everywhere, and to top it all off, they always seem to be out of stock of a majority of their items. I always get the excuse that they’re waiting on the truck, but no matter how long I wait some items just never get restocked.
Sadly I decided to stop coming to this location as it isn’t worth the time if more than 90% of the times I’ve been there recently I’ve had to leave empty handed. I will only be going here for items I know they’ll have from now on; e.g. gum.

I was unable to shop at the magazine stand as they had 20+ boxes in the aisle area. Need to be more organized!

This store is always out of EVERYTHING, but especially cosmetics and nail polish. I don’t know why, but the shelves are never stocked and there are bins everywhere. This is the only Duane Reade near my apt so it’s pretty frustrating. The store itself is nice and always clean and most of the employees are nice. If management can figure out how to keep up with supply and demand this could be a great store.

So… this is by far the worst DR I’ve been too. Perhaps maybe the worse chain drugstore. #1 the staff is just plain rude. The pharmacists are great, but the store staff seem to not know what they’re job is half the time with the exception of one or two people. One guy with dreds always talks about how he should be the shift manager, but isn’t — and he does so loudly. I was sick that day and feeling crappy and I didn’t want all the noise from some one who is supposed to be calm and friendly. And then some other staff members just laugh and talk and discuss the store products and if they can open them/​test them.
I want this to be a nice one because it’s the closest one to me, but with the boxes everywhere and the roach I saw the other day on a box of heating pads, I just can’t.

They need to move all the stuff out the way. Every time I go I can’t even properly find what I’m looking for because there are a bunch of boxes and crap in the way, especially in the back near the foods. The 2^nd register that also has candy is completely covered with stuff, you can’t walk around there. The people at this location are not doing their job. Also the ‘back’ door is ALWAYS closed, it’s so annoying. I live on that side of the street so I’d love to enter and exit through there as it’s closer but it’s always locked. Why even have it then?

I love «my» Duane Reade! It’s not the largest around and therefore doesn’t have an exhaustive inventory of things, but it generally always has what I need. The general manager (I think… wears glasses, 30ish, beard) always seems so on top of things. He doesn’t tolerate slackers or slack work (I’ve overheard him, always respectfully, addressing various staffers and delivery guys at times). I love everyone in the pharmacy and the register attendants are great. It is Harlem, so my DR does have a little but of a Harlem attitude and personality, but it only endears me to the store all the more. Staff retention is high (over my 5 yrs as a consistent customer), which generally speaks highly to me about a business. Clientele is a good mix of the neighborhood, which also speaks well. I love my DR, what can I say? (A lot, apparently!)

Wow. Who hires these folks and is there a manager? Cashier in near physical altercation with customers? Seen it twice. Pharmacist having a mental breakdown while ringing me up? Yep. A dependable ‘why are you bothering me?’ attitude from all staff? You betcha. Holy moly…

Likely the least well stocked duane reade in manhattan. Also, 5 registers– never more then 1 cashier. Just awful.

Umm– prices mislabeled. Cashiers completely ignoring me while discussing who’s in jail with some guy (not a customer). Seriously? Get your #%!+ together! The store layout is bizarre/​confusing, too.

Pharmacy-​only review.
As a recent convert from CVS, I am blown away of the difference in customer service. Perhaps this is unique to this location alone, but it’s night and day. They know their customers by name as they walk up I noticed, and they aren’t rude or angry towards their customers (or to their coworkers) as I have seen elsewhere (yes, CVS, I am looking at you). Rather, they are sweet and greet you with a smile like you’d expect from a mom and pop pharmacy.

Very unhappy. Very, very unhappy. I recently underwent some surgery
, some private type surgery and the result has been a very temporary and very minimal loss of control in some body «functions.»
Well, I go into this duade reade, to ask a personal question, that I was quite embarrassed about anyway and I get the «run around.»
Well sir, what are you looking for exactly, etc. etc.
Don’t they understand I don’t want to announce to everyone that I have a private health issue?
On the positive, it is clean, organized, has a good selection of products including magazines.

The store was out of every single item I went there to purchase, among these Tazo Tea (China Green Tips). In fact, they were out of every Tazo tea, as well as most candy brands, cat litter, etc.
Twenty-​minute wait in line and one cashier. For entertainment, we could listen to one of the cashiers, just adjacent but apparently not on duty, converse animatedly with a friend. Eventually, the manager demanded that she return and «open up,» at which point the manager left, leaving the huge line and just two registers open.
Someone is not doing his/​her job (s) at this store.

How is this Duane Reade SO much better than every other Duane Reade I’ve been to? Seriously, it’s like night and day. The place is always clean and well stocked and the employees are even friendly to their customers sometimes (maybe even oftentimes)! Weird.
I wanted to support the mom-​and-​pop pharmacy across Broadway, but I just couldn’t justify it anymore when the drug prices were consistently 3 or 4 times higher and the pharmacist kept messing up my orders. This DR’s pharmacy staff is not always perfect either, but they’re definitely more professional and I can’t complain about the prices.

STOP GOING to any other DR pharmacy in the neighborhood; especially the one at Bway & 114ish. (The one w the pharmacy downstairs, an eternally long line & generally unhappy & incompetent staff).
This pharmacy is amazing, always staffed, rarely a line, spacious, & the staff are extremely helpful & knowledgeable.
Yes I’m acutely aware of gentrification and the creeping of Columbia into Harlem, and the remodel may likely be a result of this, but I’m sorry, I need to go to pharmacies sometimes and this one is my favorite.

Ridiculously bright chain at the foot of the 1, but I wouldn’t expect any less of DR. Not gonna lie, I had to see if a Harlem Duane Reade carried their notorious sushi. I gave up halfway thru the store… and just left. The monopoly needs to stop.

Not bad… I am not really impressed with NYC pharmacies… I have always been partial to CVS but there aren’t many around my apartment. Kinda pricey, but good. Great people at the pharmacy too!

This Duane Reade is newly remodeled and is spacious with wide aisles (something hard to come by in NYC) and is also very clean. The bright lights are a bit harsh, but better to have more light than not enough. The store is conveniently located next to the 1line 125 Street subway stop.
I use this Duane Reade for its pharmacy services. I never have to wait in line and my order has never been screwed up. John Goode, a staff pharmacist, has been able to help me with all my insurance questions. In the evenings there’s another male pharmacist (not sure of his name) who is also very nice. Duane Reade has negotiated very fair drug prices so prescriptions are affordable.
I do not recommend shopping at any Duane Reade in this city unless you’re in a pinch. While the store has a nice selection of every day items and snacks, its prices are extremely overpriced. For example, a large bottle refill of SoftSoap costs $ 9.99 at Duane Reade while at Bed, Bath & Beyond it only cost $ 5.99. I think it’s atrocious how Duane Reade inflates its prices.
So if you’re looking for a good pharmacy use this Duane Reade, otherwise forget about shopping at this over-​priced retail drug store.