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Displaced by Broadway Whole Foods, Walgreens pharmacy is relocating to Pike/Pine

(Image: Broadstone Infinity)

(Image: Broadstone Infinity)

It seems even Walgreens must succumb to the omnipotent force of a brand new Broadway Whole Foods.

In order to make way for a 16-story apartment and grocery store development at Madison and Broadway, the national drug store chain is moving its Community Pharmacy to commercial space in new construction at 11th and E Union. The third Walgreens business on Capitol Hill is slated to open in the coming months, a company representative tells CHS.

Community Pharmacy does not have a standard format Walgreens retail store, but provides immunizations, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS support in addition to a regular pharmacy counter.

Walgreens join Renee Erickson’s E Union triumvirate in the Broadstone Infinity building. Bar Melusine, Bateau, and General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts opened in November. The new pharmacy space will be located on the 11th Ave side of the project — mid-block between Pike and Union.

The Broadstone development infamously inspired a re-working of the development incentives included in the Pike/Pine Conservation District and joined a wave of large Capitol Hill developments with equally large commercial components that many have feared will only be able to be utilized by large chains. While Erickson’s ambitious project has so far proven those fears unfounded, there are examples like the Redhook brewery and brewpub expected to open on E Pike this fall that illustrate the point. Thai concern Soi is also putting a larger than average restaurant space to use in the Broadstone project.

The Walgreens representative would not say if the 15th Ave E or Broadway Walgreens locations would be affected by the move or if plans were in the works to close the Broadway Rite Aid. Rite Aid shareholders overwhelmingly approved a $9.4 billion buyout offer from Walgreens this month, but the deal has not yet been finalized.

The 11th and Union Walgreens will join a small pocket of Pill Hill extension in Pike/Pine. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation pharmacy opened on E Pike in 2014.

The three-story brick building near Broadway and Madison that currently houses Community Pharmacy and other medical offices is planned to be demolished sometime this summer, putting the Whole Foods project on track to open in mid-2018. Plans from developer Columbia Pacific Advisors and architects Tiscareno Associates call for 265 residential units and 358 below grade parking spaces. The East Design Review Board approved the plans in January.

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Gurldoggie
Gurldoggie
8 years ago

What this neighborhood really needs is another Walgreens. When I need Q-tips it makes me CRAZY having to walk as much as 50 feet to buy them. Hopefully, if we wish hard enough, we will have a Walgreens in every building.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
8 years ago
Reply to  Gurldoggie

“Community Pharmacy does not have a standard format Walgreens retail store, but provides immunizations, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS support in addition to a regular pharmacy counter.”

Jack
8 years ago

It still hurts every time I walk by the drug store at John and Broadway, which used to be a movie theater. They kept the marquee just to make it hurt more.

RWK
RWK
8 years ago
Reply to  Jack

Yes. First it was the loss of this theater, next the ones in the Broadway Market building, and now the Harvard Exit. There used to be several movies to choose from on Capitol Hill, now there is only the Egyptian.