Walgreens on Saturday welcomed the public to the official opening of its 8,000th store nationwide and its first flagship store on the West Coast, located in Los Angeles at the corner of Sunset and Vine. The store features an extensive collection of innovative offerings, products and services—perhaps unexpected from a drugstore.
“We are thrilled to locate our milestone 8,000th store and latest flagship store at such a famous intersection as we bring a format unlike any traditional drugstore to the Hollywood community,” said Joe Magnacca, Walgreens president of daily living products and solutions. “Walgreens aims to be America’s first choice for health and daily living, and we look forward to providing an exceptional experience for our customers as we help them get, stay and live well.”
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, “I’m very proud that Walgreens has chosen Los Angeles for its milestone 8,000th store, and is providing Hollywood residents with more access to pharmacy, health and wellness services. This flagship location brings not only a unique retail offering to this community, but also additional jobs and economic investment that help build a vibrant neighborhood.”
The store’s expanded features include:
• A Look Boutique beauty department featuring dozens of prestige and niche cosmetic, skincare and hair care brands not typically found in drugstores. As part of it, Britain’s leading skincare brand, No7, created by Boots, will be available in a Walgreens store for the first time. No7 is well known for its internationally acclaimed range of anti-aging beauty serums, all independently scientifically tested. (The availability of No7 products at this Walgreens follows the strategic partnership between Walgreens and Alliance Boots, the leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group. Last June, Walgreens and Alliance Boots entered into a strategic transaction designed to create the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.) The Look Boutique also will have specially-trained beauty advisors, including a No7 beauty advisor, on hand to offer guidance finding the best solutions for individual needs. Expert shaping and grooming services will be available at the Eyebrow Bar.
• An enhanced, state-of-the-art pharmacy designed to encourage greater interaction between pharmacists and patients. Team member “health guides” will help pharmacy customers navigate a range of health and wellness products, services and resources including immunizations and health tests. The pharmacy also features an “Ask Your Pharmacist” desk, consultation rooms and Express Rx kiosks for swift checkout.
• A variety of fresh hand-rolled sushi and sashimi prepared daily.
• An Upmarket Café offering a barista preparing fresh brewed premium coffee, espressos, as well as iced and frozen options.
• A juice and smoothie bar featuring fresh fruits and vegetables included in the 24 distinct recipes available. Customers also can enjoy eight flavors of self-serve frozen yogurt accompanied by an enticing toppings bar.
• Hundreds of fresh food items including produce and high-quality, on-the-go meal options such as wraps, sandwiches and salads made fresh daily.
• A best-in-class wine selection boasting more than 700 fine wines that will pair well with the store’s assortment of artisan and brie cheeses as well as specialty meats, decadent chocolates and more. A Beverage Wizard kiosk provides food and beverage pairing recommendations.
• A Coca-Cola Freestyle machine dispensing 130 varieties of Coca Cola fountain drinks. During the flagship and 8,000th store ribbon cutting ceremony over the weekend, Walgreens acknowledged World AIDS Day and the company’s involvement in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS by presenting a $10,000 donation to Charles Drew University in recognition of its HIV-related programming and outreach.
The store is open 24 hours every day with pharmacy hours from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a. m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
