Walgreens To Open New Store In Tribune Tower
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Walgreens announced Tuesday that it will be opening a new, upscale drugstore in the Tribune Tower next year.
Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger told CBS 2 that a store is set to open in the Tribune Tower, 435 N. Michigan Ave., in the summer of 2013. He said the store will have features similar to a location that opened in January at State and Randolph streets.
The approximately 25,000 square-foot location will have a bridge pharmacy with a pharmacist at a front desk, as well as a Take Care medical clinic, among other features.
The new Walgreens will complement the existing store across the street at 430 N. Michigan Ave., rather than replacing it. The existing store, which has 11,398 square feet, will be renovated to offer more fresh food, Elfinger said by e-mail.
The renovation of the existing store is also set to be complete in the summer of next year.
The 151 N. State St. location, which replaced a Loehmann's Department store, occupies about 22,000 square feet on two levels. It features amenities such as a sushi bar, a station for fruit juice shakes, and a barista bar for coffee; along with a beer, wine and spirits section featuring tastings.
Pharmacists at the store have been moved out front from behind the counter to consult with patients out front.
Plans also have been released for a two-story Walgreens at the old Borders at 2817 N. Clark St., in the East Lakeview neighborhood. Renderings from the architectural firm Hirsch Associates LLC showed plans for two-story "Wellness Experience" store at the site with more space and features than a typical Walgreens store.
Deerfield-based Walgreens is not saying how many stores similar to the new State Street store it is considering, but said it's scouting former Borders bookstore locations across the country.
