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?!
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33 Comments

Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish Jan 16, 2011
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?
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 16, 2011
@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??
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK Jan 16, 2011
@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!
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 16, 2011
@BroadwayBK I am truly surprised!
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK Jan 16, 2011
I guess if you build it, the poor-ish beer-loving twenty-somethings will come.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 18, 2011
@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 ...
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK Jan 19, 2011
@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.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 19, 2011
@BroadwayBk Aha.. okay that makes sense then ..its cheap beer after all and it would find an audience
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hhusted
hhusted Jan 19, 2011
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.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 20, 2011
@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.
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hhusted
hhusted Jan 20, 2011
@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. :)
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 20, 2011
@hhusted I am probably heading back as soon as next month.. dont think Bloomberg is going anywhere in a hurry
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hhusted
hhusted Jan 20, 2011
Uptowngirl: Oh, are you coming back for vacation, or to stay?
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish Jan 20, 2011
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?
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hhusted
hhusted Jan 21, 2011
@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?
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK Jan 22, 2011
@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!
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish Jan 23, 2011
@BroadwayBK Ah, yes, of course!
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps Jan 23, 2011
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!
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 23, 2011
@NeverSleeps seriously??
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps Jan 23, 2011
@uptowngirl Totally! DR saw the population for what it is: fools for beer.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Jan 23, 2011
@NeverSleeps Ha!
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Feb 14, 2011
@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
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps Feb 14, 2011
@uptowngirl I thought you could pretty much buy one of those anywhere these days?
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps Feb 14, 2011
But then, maybe I've been watching Sixteen and Pregnant too often...
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Feb 15, 2011
@NeverSleeps Honestly I had never noticed these kits before but maybe you are right and they are available everywhere including Bed, Bath and Beyond.
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JenMac
JenMac Feb 17, 2011
How often do people need to test DNA
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BroadwayBK
BroadwayBK Feb 17, 2011
@uptowngirl I guess you never saw the need! @JenMac Often enough, apparently. Viva la sexual revolution?
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Feb 17, 2011
@JenMac good point JenMac one would assume NYC was overrun with pregnant irresponsible teens.
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JenMac
JenMac Feb 18, 2011
@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.
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uptowngirl
uptowngirl Feb 19, 2011
@JenMac really? I thought most people were quite responsible nowadays ...
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JenMac
JenMac Feb 20, 2011
@uptown: I guess not.
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NeverSleeps
NeverSleeps Feb 20, 2011
Even if you're being responsible, it can still happen. Your body just wants to procreate! Of course one should always be responsible.
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Uraniumfish
Uraniumfish Feb 21, 2011
@NeverSleeps Oh man I know one of the producers of that show...
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