Walgreens rolling first store into D.C.

DEERFIELD, Ill. Walgreen Co. will take the wraps off its first store in the District of Columbia with a grand opening March 6.

The chain, whose 6,179 stores now extend to 49 states and Puerto Rico, will host a special ceremony at 10 a.m. to mark its first drug store in Washington, DC. In a statement, the company called the event “an important milestone” for the chain, which is rapidly expanding its presence up and down the densely populated mid-Atlantic corridor.

“With the opening of this new 24-hour store, Walgreens now serves residents of every major metropolitan area in the country,” noted a company spokesperson.

Walgreens’ first DC store—many more will follow, if the company follows its standard operating model—is located at the intersection of 22nd Street and M Street in the heart of the city. Hosting the ribbon-cutting will be Kermit Crawford, Walgreen senior vice president of pharmacy services.

The event will also feature demonstrations of Walgreens pharmacy services and technology by Phil Burgess, national director of pharmacy affairs. The store will also introduce Washington consumers to a full range of recent Walgreens in-store innovations, including coffee and fountain drinks from Cafe W, printer cartridge refills, DHL shipping services, Walgreens.com photofinishing tools and prestige beauty products including the “European Beauty Collection,” “Yes To Carrots” and the new Chemisty and Sally Hershberger hair care lines.