Duane Reade

This location is okay. I am happy because they have a large candy/​chocolate selection. They have all the Lindt chocolates that I love. The store isn’t very big though. They also need to update their make up section/​add more recent make up.

Racist Pharmacists!
I came here a few months ago after just being released from the hospital and having had a prescription for percocet. The pharmacist behind the counter took one look at me and flatly said they’re out of stock. No «come back later» or «let me call another location» …as if black people only use painkillers as drugs. Smh. I ended up at cvs on 116 where they were more helpful.
I went back after a week of recovery to complain to the manager and he pretended to take down information and did absolutely nothing with it. A singh guy with a head wrap. I never heard an apology or nothing. At that time, my pain was causing high blood pressure and this pharmacy could have been directly responsible for my ill fate. As a black African woman with double degrees, I was highly offended by this treatment and even sent a complaint to corporate office.
I now only go there for the ocassional detergent or lip gloss if I have to.

Everything is all over the place and you basically have to football tackle someone to help you find what you need. I can do without all the attitude also!

This DR has such show cashiers. I seriously wanted to cry.

The pharmacy closed ten minutes early. I know I should give someone working a late shift a break, but its super inconvenient when you need to pick up a prescription.
Quite often there is a very long line. Typically, the service is slow and not very good.
On the plus side, it does have a decent selection of beer, groceries, and snacks, which is nice when I’m feeling the munchies.

The other day, as I shopped for cleaning supplies, I was approached IN THE STORE by a teenager (13? 14?), who sidled up to me and said in a hushed voice, «…‘scu me I raising money for my school Frederick Douglass Academy [briefly flashes a folder with dog-​eared copies, unreadable, and several rumpled dollar bills] we raising money for [mumbles something unintelligible] and we taking donations anything you can give even a dollar …»
In the store. Management was not in evidence. I responded that he probably should not be soliciting donations in the store. His gaze of outrage followed me as I walked away.
I then left, avoiding the crowd of teenage girls loitering and raising a ruckus, complete with ear-​piercing screams and foul language, near the entrance.

They flipped this formerly terrifying and clearly ill-​managed Duane Reade into the new Duane Reade 2.0 and I love it! In this craptastic economy I respect the risk that Duane Reade has taken with remodeling so many of their stores. This 125^th St anchor location BADLY needed it, and so the difference is amazing. It even seems like their choices in stock have changed and their staff is more on top of it.
I don’t care if that’s just the antiseptic bright lighting talking, it works for me. Back when it was gross I used to pass this one by and go 10 blocks up to 135^th street, I doubt I’ll even think of doing that now. Though the greedy bitch in me wishes they’d added the more extensive prepared food options/​coffee bar I’ve seen at other flipped locales, that probably would have blown my mind, so maybe I’m better off with my unexpected pleasures coming in this more manageable package.

I’ll pass, stick to my friendly CVS :) Better service!

Only two stars because if you really must go in there you may actually find what you are looking for. I hate this D.R. layout is jacked up, stock is questionable and friendly cashiers? Fuggetaboutit! My advice? Go up 10 blocks to the brand new DR at 135^th Street.