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WASHINGTON — Walgreen Co. officials took part in a grand opening ceremony for the drug chain’s latest flagship location, in Washington, D.C.
Sporting the retailer’s "Well Experience" format, the 24-hour store at 7th Street and H Street NW, in the District of Columbia’s Chinatown area, features a pharmacy layout that facilitates pharmacist-patient interaction, health tests and vaccinations along with expanded daily living offerings such as fresh food and an enhanced beauty care department.
On hand at the ribbon-cutting event for the store on Thursday were Walgreens executives Mark Wagner, president of operations and community management; Kermit Crawford, president of pharmacy, health and wellness; John Foley, corporate operations vice president; and Darron Briscoe, market vice president of operations and community management.
Washington Mayor Vincent Gray and Councilman Jack Evans also attended the event, as did Cal Roberts, chief medical officer for Bausch + Lomb, which has teamed up with Walgreens for an eye health education program called SightSense.
"Every day, more than 6 million customers and patients visit us for convenient access to innovative products, as well as health and wellness services to help them get, stay and live well," Wagner said in a statement. "Together, our offerings demonstrate how Walgreens is transforming daily living, pharmacy and health care experiences nationwide."
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The D.C. store’s pharmacy has an "Ask Your Pharmacist" desk, consultation rooms and Express Rx kiosks for fast checkout. In addition, an iPad-equipped health guide can help pharmacy patient navigate the store’s breadth of health and wellness products, services and resources, including immunizations and health screenings.
And adjacent to the pharmacy is a Take Care Clinic, offering a range of health care services such as vaccines, health tests, physical exams, and treatments for common illnesses and minor injuries.
In the front end, a Look Boutique beauty department showcases dozens of prestige and niche cosmetic, skin care and hair care brands not normally found in drug stores, Walgreens noted. Britain’s leading skin care brand, No7, also is available at the store through Walgreens’ partnership with Alliance Boots.
Specially trained beauty advisers also are available to help customers find solutions for individual needs. A Nail Bar offers professional manicures with the latest colors from essie and OPI, while expert shaping and grooming services are available at the Eyebrow Bar.
Food and beverages, too, are a marquee element in the front of the store. Hundreds of fresh food items are made daily, including produce and on-the-go meal options such as wraps, sandwiches and salads. A Coca-Cola Freestyle machine dispense 130 varieties of fountain drinks. The Upmarket Cafe features a barista who prepares fresh-brewed premium coffee and espressos. There’s also self-serve frozen yogurt with a toppings bar and a juice and smoothie bar with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Over the past few years, Walgreens has opened flagship stores in New York City (including Duane Reade locations), Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico.
