BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK

Williamsburg Duane Reade comes complete with tap beer

This article - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/business/14beer.html?src=me&ref=business - in the Times talks about how a newly opened Duane Reade on Bedford Ave is attempting to appeal to the area's inhabitants in an area that is somehow "devoid of opportunities for beer."

The arrival of DR on Bedford has been met with much distaste, especially since it's being built across the street from neighborhood staple Kings Pharmacy. I can understand what they are attempting to do, but will kids really want to head to Duane Reade for tap beer?!
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
6 people following
this discussion
Report

33 Comments

Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
Seriously? Doesn't is seem like a desperate move? It's clear that they've long ago started trying to be a kind of mini-market as well (canned soup anyone?). This just seems somehow confused in its scope. Why not put in a pretzel stand as well, while they're at it?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK that is truly bizarre who in the world would want to stop for a beer in a brightly lit Duane Reade store?? What were they thinking??
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@uptowngirl I actually posted the article before I got to the end of it, only to find that this store does the best beer sales of all Duane Reades. I guess they know their neighborhood.

@Uraniumfish It kind of reminds me of how Wal-Mart justifies going into a new neighborhood - they always say, oh well we are the only ones offering a market! We won't be putting others out of business because we're just adding things to the neighborhood that weren't there before!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK I am truly surprised!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
I guess if you build it, the poor-ish beer-loving twenty-somethings will come.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK still cant get my head around it imagine drinking beer in the antiseptic ambiance of a Duane Reade but I am hardly likely to do so any time soon ...
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@uptowngirl Ha... that was what I was picturing at first, but I don't think they have a license that allows drinking on the premises. They bottle up the draft beer and seal it so you can take it to the comforts of your home.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@BroadwayBk Aha.. okay that makes sense then ..its cheap beer after all and it would find an audience
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Why not have tap beer. Duane Reade sells beer by the case and by the bottle. In fact, in the Duane Reader near me, they do have beer on tap. But you have to ask for it.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I am sure I havent seen tap beer at the DRs located near me but then things could have changed in the 9 months that i have been away.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Uptowngirl: Yeah, being away makes you miss a lot of stuff. Maybe when you come back, we will have a different mayor and be in a different economic system. :)
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@hhusted I am probably heading back as soon as next month.. dont think Bloomberg is going anywhere in a hurry
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
Uptowngirl: Oh, are you coming back for vacation, or to stay?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
But don't you need a bit of atmosphere to imbibe the cheap beer? By atmosphere I mean a dive-y, dump-y dark place where people's faces can blur into the gloom?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
hhusted
hhusted 2yrs+
@Uraniumfish: Well, I don't know about that, since I don't drink. But I have gone by bars and noticed it was dark inside. Is that what you mean?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@hhusted The article says that the tap beer in the Williamsburg DR is a completely one-off project, meaning that they DON"T have kegs in other DR stores, and if you read the article you will see that they are saying they don't plan on doing anything like this elsewhere.

@Uraniumfish You can always take it back to your dark, dive-y, dump-y Williamsburg loft!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@BroadwayBK Ah, yes, of course!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
Am I the only one who sees the semi-genius of this DR ploy? And what's more, it totally worked - the hipsters are going to Duane Reade for draft beer!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps seriously??
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@uptowngirl Totally! DR saw the population for what it is: fools for beer.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps Ha!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@Everyone Now Duane Reade is beginning to sell OTC DNA testing kits..I really don't know what to make of it revolutionary or a sign of desperate times?

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/14/2011-02-14_duane_reade_to_sell_over_the_counter_dna_tests_residents_say_it_sounds_like_a_ma.html
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
@uptowngirl I thought you could pretty much buy one of those anywhere these days?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
But then, maybe I've been watching Sixteen and Pregnant too often...
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps Honestly I had never noticed these kits before but maybe you are right and they are available everywhere including Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
How often do people need to test DNA
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK 2yrs+
@uptowngirl I guess you never saw the need!

@JenMac Often enough, apparently. Viva la sexual revolution?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@JenMac good point JenMac one would assume NYC was overrun with pregnant irresponsible teens.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
@uptown: more like prego, irresponsible of all ages. I know an awful lot of women my age who have had an abortion in this city.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
uptowngirl
uptowngirl 2yrs+
@JenMac really? I thought most people were quite responsible nowadays ...
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
JenMac
JenMac 2yrs+
@uptown: I guess not.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps 2yrs+
Even if you're being responsible, it can still happen. Your body just wants to procreate! Of course one should always be responsible.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish 2yrs+
@NeverSleeps Oh man I know one of the producers of that show...
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.

Add a comment

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

8.9

Gramercy Park
Ranked 3rd best neighborhood in Manhattan. View More
8.7

Russian Hill
Ranked 1st best neighborhood in San Francisco. View More
8.6

Magnolia
Ranked 2nd best neighborhood in Seattle. View More
8.9

Georgetown
Ranked 3rd best neighborhood in Washington. View More

Best Cities to Live In

6.9

Boston
Ranked 1st best city in Massachusetts. View More
7.1

Chicago
Ranked 2nd best city in Illinois. View More
7.1

Minneapolis
Ranked 7th best city in Minnesota. View More
5.8

Philadelphia
Ranked 2nd best city in Pennsylvania. View More

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More

To leave a review, please search for a city or neighborhood, click search, then click the "write a review" button near the top of the page.

Close x