It now appears that all the rumors about a major drug store arriving at the commercial spaces by West 137th Street and Broadway are actually true. This corner of West Harlem used to have the Mexican eatery Tres Pasos, the Vinegar Hill sandwich shop and Cafe Largo but all have been shuttered for over a couple of years now. All three shops added an upgraded selection of dining options at this section of West Harlem close to City College's main campus but those hoping that they would reopen in the future will now be disappointed. At one point, a gourmet deli had announced its future arrival but all three spaces have now been combined for one large Duane Reade store. There are not too many major drug store in West Harlem so this is actually an okay situation.
It wasn't just a rumor. I posted last summer that someone from CB9 confirmed to me that it was going to be a Duane Reade.
ReplyDelete... and I disagree that this is an okay situation. We need more restaurants and bars up here, not drug stores. There's a Rite Aid at 145/Broadway and another Duane Reade on 145 as well... not to mention the countless 99 cent stores and beauty stores that sell most basics that one would need.
ReplyDeleteI agree.I know many areas are more saturated with retail pharmacies but the placing of a DR here is very useful.It provides good lighting for that corner in terms of safety at night. Also,seeing as there is a dearth of Chase bank ATMS between 144th Street and 125th street along broadway it makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteThe haul either uptown to the Rite Aid (desperately in need of a make over) or downtown to Duane Reade on 125th Street is a hardship to the elderly and disabled. The DR on 145th Street is not convenient to those on Broadway either. This is something that the neighborhood needs as they also sell grocery items and there are not many major grocery stores in that area either. A DR is certainly more sustainable than the fickle restaurant business. I think the landlord wanted a sure deal and didn't want to get burned again. Wise move on his or her part.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, that other Duane Reade is 3/4 of a mile away, and rite aid is pretty awful.
ReplyDeleteI too wish it was something else, but Duane Reade is a big improvement over what was there for the last two years: nothing.
You are joking about there being no major grocery stores, right? There is a rather large supermarket right across from that park at 139/Broadway, and another store on Broadway just south of 135 (not to mention the Fairway on 133/12th).
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would never condone a landlord bringing in a boring, unimaginative chain store over a family business.
Key word was MAJOR. Those neighborhood grocery stores I wouldn't let my dog shop there! Fairway is down a steep hill, again a problem for those with mobility issues. Sure they can go to a wonderful family restaurant, but that doesn't serve their most basic needs. Yay for boring and unimaginative! Yay for rent paying tenants!
ReplyDeleteuh, those ARE major grocery stores -- in other words, they are chain retailers with extensive square footage, and in case you haven't been inside, it's where many of the locals do their grocery shopping (in other words, people and not dogs). And hey, while we are at it, they have drugstore aisles in those stores too!
ReplyDeleteAnd just FYI, Fairway offers a shuttle for those with mobility issues...I don't know how many take them up on this though.
Good to know about the shuttle for Fairway. They should advertise that.
ReplyDeleteThey do -- in the store itself and on their website. http://www.fairwaymarket.com/store-harlem/
ReplyDeleteWinner, winner, chicken dinner!
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for the DR. A nice new DR serves many needs. That chase atm point is also great.
ReplyDeleteThat shuttle is only good for parties of 10 or more, so that only helps to an extent. Trying to organize 10 strangers to take a shuttle at the exact same time is no easy feat. Also, you can only arrange it for twice a month. It cannot be used more than that. So, really, the shuttle is not so convenient.
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't any good place in this neighborhood to get grocery shopping done. I love my meat market and the little beauty supply shop, but they carry maybe a fraction of what I need. C-Town and the shop at 139th are NOT reasonably priced in comparison to other chains, and I cannot afford many things. If I could, there's a decent chance I'd live elsewhere in Manhattan.
The produce at the super market on 138th btwn Broadway and Amsterdam has very good produce at very good prices. And all other staples are there as well. Agreed there is an odor from the meat section.
ReplyDeleteI wish there would be one good Asian restaurant... but that will be a long time coming I think. Cafe Largo was great!