Walgreens is making its debut in the District this morning with the grand opening of a new store near the West End section on 22nd Street — one of more than a dozen locations the chain plans to open in the area over the next few years.
“The need and demand for pharmacy services is growing in D.C.,” said Walgreens spokeswoman Tiffani Bruce.
The District is the last metropolitan area in the country for the chain to enter. Finding the right location with ample space has been something Walgreens has been “looking at for many years,” Bruce said. At least 12 more stores will open in the region over the next three years, with as many as 40 more across all of Virginia and Maryland.
“This is very important in light of the recent slowdown in the economy. … It shows that D.C. is still a good place to come and be successful,” said Janene Jackson, senior vice president of external affairs for the D.C. Chamber of Commerce.
The store, about 9,500 square feet, is smaller than the average Walgreens, which is typically about 14,500 square feet. With tighter space, Walgreens made “more of an effort to tailor the selection” to the neighborhood, Bruce said. The store caters to tourists visiting the Georgetown area, as well as the doctors offices and other nearby businesses. It also has a DHL shipping counter, one of the first stores to offer this service, in addition to a cafe, pharmacy counter, photo center, and health and beauty and household goods sections.
“Competition is always great,” said Jackson, referring to the wider range of services. “… It’s really going to be a good thing for consumers.”
Walgreens has four other stores in the metro area: in Alexandria, Potomac, Fairfax and Herndon.
