Walgreens Builds Up a Flagship Fleet

Walgreens recently expanded its "flagship store" concept with the opening of a location in Los Angeles and a second site in hometown Chicago. According to the retailer's fiscal 2012 annual report (see Attached Files at right), "Walgreens' flagship stores are designed to get people talking. They're in high-profile, high-traffic areas of large cities, and although they offer some products and services you won't find in every store — such as sushi, manicures and locally baked treats — they showcase the outstanding customer service people can expect at any Walgreens."Since debuting the current concept in June 2011 at a Duane Reade store in New York, the retailer has also opened flagship locations in Las Vegas and Puerto Rico and has others planned for Philadelphia and Boston.Like the first Chicago flagship, which opened in January 2012, the L.A. store's expanded elements include a "Look Boutique," an enhanced pharmacy, fresh sushi, a juice and smoothie bar, and an Up Market Cafe. (See "Store Check: Walgreens Unveils ..." in Related Articles.)Walgreens is billing the store, which opened on Dec. 1 at the legendary Sunset and Vine intersection in Hollywood, as its 8,000th U.S. site. The grand opening was promoted through a "mobile tasting tour" that distributed fresh food and refreshments throughout LA from a customized 40-foot bus from Nov. 26 through Dec. 5. The retailer promoted the daily tour stops and showcased product samples via Twitter.The store also is the first Walgreens to stock the Boots No7 brand, a byproduct of the retailer's merger with Alliance Boots in mid-2012. (See "Walgreens Buys Boots.")In November, Walgreens opened its second Chicago flagship in the renovated Noel State Bank building in the city's Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood."It was thrilling to restore this architectural gem once again into a thriving business anchor," Joe Magnacca, Walgreens president of daily living products and solutions, said in a media release. "It's the latest example of how we are stepping out of the traditional drugstore format and helping people get, stay and live well."Walgreens repurposed the building's original bank vault as a "Vitamin Vault" within the store's health and wellness section. (See Related Images.) Other unique elements include a Hallmark Cards endcap with a large video screen. (See below.)

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