I was invited to the opening of the Walgreens flagship store opening by Collective Bias®. I was compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias ™ and Walgreens #CBias #SocialFabric All Opinions are my own.
About a month ago I received an email telling me that there was going to be a Flagship store grand opening for Walgreens in Boston, Masachusetts. Intrigued, I wondered just what a flagship store could be… and did I want to come up and attend the opening, and then share with my readers? Well, yes, yes I did. Now I’m going to tell you about this amazing store and I apologize if you end up wishing you lived in an area where there was or will soon be a flagship Walgreens store.
First things first. I want you to take all of the things you know and think about with Walgreens, and then kind of push them aside. I mean, yes, the things that your local Walgreens sells are still at the flagship store. Why? Because….
You can get fresh sushi prepared by chefs. In front of you. At Walgreens.
You can get a manicure (for $12!). At Walgreens. You can get designs applied, or a gel manicure, for a little bit more. High end products, and trained and licensed nail technicians. At Walgreens.
You can get your eyebrows “done” or your eyelashes applied. At Walgreens.
You can see the Pharmacist, seated, ready to talk with patients and give them quality care. You can also see the consultation room just off to the side. That door shuts and the room is soundproof.
You can have a private consultation with your pharmacist behind a closed door in a sound proof room. At Walgreens. Which reminds me- there’s this whole concept Walgreens has with their pharmacy, and they want to focus on the care their pharmacists can provide to customers so the pharmacist is sitting out front, accessible and approachable. At Walgreens.
You can pick up wine, beer and spirits. At Walgreens. (Please note, when I say wine, beer and spirits, I am not just talking about a few shelves. The Walgreens at Downtown Crossing (School and Washington) has a mezzanine level that’s all wine, beer and spirits, including a section with imported cheeses, chilled wines (hello, staying in an area hotel? STOP BY!)…and a fun little machine that helps you pair the aforementioned mezzanine level items with your dishes being served. Remember, this is still at Walgreens.
Want a soda? (Do you call it pop where you live? I know people do, but it’s kind of strange to me, having spent all 38 years and 360 days of my life to date living in New England) There’s a Coke Freestyle machine and you can choose from 146 flavors. One hundred forty six options. At Walgreens.
Love smoothies? There’s a smoothie bar. At Walgreens. And something super fun about the smoothie bars is the local “flavor” in the smoothie varieties and names- in Boston, there are references to the Red Sox (my team!) and lots of other local sites, teams, and historical references. It is, in 2 words, wicked awesome. At Walgreens.
Local foods, local spirits, local beers and local culture are all pulled into the Downtown Crossing Flagship store. It’s wicked fun to see all of the Boston “phrases” and expressions in huge prints on the wall when you first enter this building- and yes, wicked is on there.
Love high end cosmetics and beauty items? The Look Boutique has it all. So many brands, so many products….and so much fun. The folks who work in the Look Boutique are specially trained and know their stuff. If you haven’t heard of Ramy Cosmetics, well, I’m sad for you. Ramy is known for his eyebrow technique (No waxing! No threading!) and he tamed my wooly caterpillar brows for me. At Walgreens. (When you are there, you need to look for the magic wand. I need to go to Boston so I can buy like 5 of them. I totally forgot to get some before I left. The official name of this is the Perfect Eye Wand but really, it’s a magic wand).
You’ll find the everyday brands that you are used to finding at Walgreens in the flagship stores, but you’ll also find Mineral Sea Mud products that I thought only came from exclusive salons and if you ask nicely (and I did, not surprisingly), they might even give you a little demo on your hand, so you can see what this stuff can do. (It comes off with a magnet! I wish I had a video- especially of my face when they pulled a magnet out!). All of this…at Walgreens.
Other amazing things you will find at a flagship store: Virtual Makeover Kiosks so you can see just how that Maybelline or Loreal product will look ON YOU. There’s a sample kiosk that offers $1 samples of many, many beauty products- it works like a vending machine- but you’re getting a sample enclosed in a very nice envelope (it looks like a present!) and with the samples? $2-$3 coupons to use on the full sized version of the samples you purchased. One of the other bloggers who attended this event with me tried this Sample It machine (from Coinstar, and you won’t (for now) find it anywhere else in the country) and tried the machine- she got a lip gloss sample- several colors came in that envelope- very generous sample, and a very generous coupon to boot!
Want to see more photos from the opening? Check out my Google Plus album! I want to know what you think- can you believe this is Walgreens?
Next time you are in Boston, go to Walgreens. It’s worth it. I can’t wait until I’m in Boston again and can visit the store once more. This is not your mama’s drugstore chain. It’s not your mama’s Walgreens!
Alison says
Incredible – I try to shop at the Walgreen’s near us – I would be there every week if it had all of these items. Will they open more like that one? I am in Orlando – it would be so great down here. Thanks for sharing – I hope they get more of them soon!
Kate F. says
Wow! I want a Walgreen’s like that near me!
Karen Glatt says
This flagship store of Walgreen’s is amazing. I think it looks so beautiful and I would love to shop in this store. There is a lot of different and fun things to do in this store, and one would not even know that they are in a drugstore.
NIcole Strunk says
whoa! That is an amazing Walgreens! Wish there was one near me like that!
Eileen says
I had NO idea! We love our Walgreens right in our little town, but would love to visit here. I had a niece just get back from there and she was looking for fun things to do there while on a nursing convention…she’ have loved this! I get stuck in their card department and can stand there for over an hour just picking out a card.
Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books) says
Great post! This store is truly amazing!!! My mani is still holding up too!! =)
Kristyn says
that is the most amazing walgreens i have ever seen lol
Stefani says
They don’t offer all of those services at my Walgreens, I wish!
Lyn says
Really hard to believe that this is Walgreens! Wish every city could have one like this. And also, wishing you very HAPPY BIRTHDAY a bit early!
Pam says
Wow! That is one classy Walgreens. I wish we had one like this!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
WHAT? That’s not Walgreens; that’s a spa! 😉
Jenn says
WOW that is really classy! Not like your typical WalGreens! Thanks for sharing!
Ashleigh says
Holy goodness! I am a person who loves going into new stores and just looking around even if I can’t shop but I really don’t know if I would ever leave that Walgreens. Manicure,food and all the things I love about Walgreens?! Yes please!
Sarah says
Oh my gosh! That looks awesome! I’m in awe of the sushi and the smoothie bar! Next time I’m in Boston I def. want to check this out!
Monica says
Oh wow, what an amazing place! I’m in Canada but we sometimes visit Boston, next time we are there this is one place I will definitely be visiting…oh, and absolutely having a manicure too!!
Not So Average Mama says
How cool is that??? We need these everywhere!!!!!
WWendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says
I love this! I was following your trip while you were there and it looked like a blast. I love the personal touches showing Boston pride! I wish there were some Walgreens in my area!
Beeb Ashcroft says
Holy cow, not only is that a huge Walgreens but I can’t believe all the fresh food and manicures there! I’ve spent a lot of time in Walgreens stores doing coupon deals – how nice would it be to be able to take a little break and get sushi made by a chef while I count my Register Rewards? LOL!
Brett says
Seriously! Than have a fro-yo bar for dessert!!
Daisy says
This is the nicest Walgreens that I have ever seen! I had no idea! I want to visit!
Dawn Lopez says
Oh WOW! That is the sweetest Wags I have ever laid eyes on! WOW! You can get a manicure on the cheap there? I sooo need to stop in there next time I head to Boston!
Brett says
Dawn- yes, and OPI polish. 🙂
Lynsey @MoscatoMom says
That is incredible. I wish there was something like that around here, but in this little town – it will never happen LOL
Sigga says
That looks awesome Brett! I’ll have to pop in next time I’m in bean town 🙂
Heather says
So now I’m wondering how quickly these types of stores will be spreading across the country. That is amazing… the only thing they left out was a childcare center so you can shop undistracted LOL
Brett says
HA great idea!! Up by the spirits….
Danielle @ We Have It All says
You’ve GOT to be kidding me!?! This can NOT be Walgreens! That place is amazing! I can’t believe you can get your nails done there or anything else for that matter, I’m just in shock! I WISH we had a Walgreens like that here in the Chicago area. My hubby is obsessed with Boston (and of course the Red Sox) so I will have to show this this post – he won’t believe it either.
Brett says
There may be one in Chicago before too long!! I knew I liked you. Red Sox = awesome!
Amy says
Wow, that’s Amazing! I love my local Walgreens stores – but to be able to go into a pharmacy and actually talk to the pharmacist WITHOUT everyone over hearing… I like that idea!
That store is HUGE but with all the things it provides, If I ever go to the Boston area, I will have to check it out!
Brett says
There are some other flagship stores — I hope one comes to Hartford CT sometime (hint hint Walgreens!!)