Well, after faking us out once... the CVS at 51 Astor Place/the IBM Watson Building/Death Star opens today. (The sign on the door originally said Sunday, Dec. 13, which meant that we got all dressed up for nothing — except church, of course.)
As noted previously and previously, CVS will eventually be joined by three more ground-level businesses — Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports.
Meantime, see you in the Beauty section!
Previously on EV Grieve:
You can finally shop at 51 Astor Place!
BREAKING: CVS is the 1st retail tenant for the Death Star! (42 comments)
1st sign of the incoming CVS at 51 Astor Place
CVS has teamed up with Watson, IBM’s supercomputer
3 new retail tenants for 51 Astor Place: Bluestone Lane Coffee, Chop’t and Flywheel Sports
Yeeeeees, I finally can get my opium locally.
ReplyDeleteThe Farce Awakens
ReplyDeleteI have to give credit to chain stores for one thing. No matter which building they move into, either a landmarked architectural marvel or an expensive modern office building they always manage to open a dull, florescent lit, could be in a strip mall environment. Congrats new CVS, you did it again.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the group you people never think of- the people who got jobs. Good luck to them
ReplyDelete"Congrats to the group you people never think of- the people who got jobs. Good luck to them" Sure minimum wage jobs. How many people do you think this giant CVS will employ 2 full time and 4 part time? The point is we don't need another stinking chain drug store, these days they are practically touch each other (on 1st btw 14th and 15th the actually do) around Astor place. Retail diversity as with cultural and human diversity is disappearing from the EV as it is in much of Manhattan. What made us the best damn city in the USA was that diversity and millions of points of looking at the world. Now it's corporate culture and none else can afford to stay.
ReplyDeleteWell CVS does sell the freshest candy corn known to man every Halloween. So there's that.
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is that they're having a blow-out Opening Day sale on Ted Nugent's "Kill It And Grill It"-line of products, including the dreaded "Opossum Eliminator".
ReplyDeleteCould be a problem?
Yes! Now I can finally get those two for one cookie deals I've been losing sleep on.
ReplyDeleteCVS has some of the worst customer service. But they have the automated tellers and shorter lines than Duane Reade. And of course cheap candy. Death Star has suffocated the East Village, you might as well live under ground or in Trenton.
DeleteYes, I can finally get condoms, IUD, and brewskis locally.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 10:09 am. Your attitude is exactly what I was referring to. Yes someone got a minimum wage job. It may be hard for you to believe but for some of us these jobs are way better than being unemployed and for some they can be the start. The idea is to first get a job- then get a better job etc. That was my point. Instead you blather on about 'retail diversity' etc. Spoken from a point of privilege to be sure. Even been on welfare? Lived in a shelter? Lived in public housing? These jobs help families who need extra income- provide people a start in the working world - reduce dependence on programs - help people in shelters get the income you need to have to qualify for some housing programs etc.. Would you rather they stay unemployed? Sounds like you would. Are you out there adding tot the 'retail diversity' of Manhattan? Of course not.
ReplyDelete@2:47
ReplyDeleteNot that it is any of your business but yes, my family lived in public housing until I was 8, it was not in NYC but subsidized housing. I also collected food stamps one year while I was going to school but was never on welfare, fortunately. So much for your theory on my "point of privilege". None of that matters of course when we discuss the direction this city and most of this country is heading. Small businesses which existed in NYC and main street USA cannot compete due to rising rents, competition from huge corporate chains stores, etc... Which would you prefer to have your own business and make minimum wage or work for a CVS or Walmart? NYC is at a point that those that work low pay jobs cannot afford to live here meaning a 90 minute subway ride into Manhattan. The amount of floor space which a CVS uses is enough for several small businesses. Unlike you I will not make any assumptions to your economic background, age or political point of view but I will dare to assume you are on this website because you are concerned about what is happening in our neighborhood. Labelling someone that does not see things your way is not a good idea.
CVS employs people? Oh right, they have that one employee who walks over to reset the machine when you try to use your own bag at the automatic scan-checkout-thingie….
ReplyDelete"at the automatic scan-checkout-thingie…. "
ReplyDeleteBut where else, brick and mortar wise, can I buy my Trojans and Depends discreetly. Win/Win.
At 9:10 AM, Edmund Dunn said:
ReplyDelete"But where else, brick and mortar wise, can I buy my Trojans and Depends discreetly. Win/Win."
How discreet is a box of Depends? It's kind of huge.
As of last night, when I walked by on the way to a play at La MaMa, it was not open and had signs identifying tomorrow--Sunday the 20th--as the new opening date. I've come to think of CVS as a kind of pharmaceutical cathedral that will never be finished. To me, it will always be Cathedral on the Village Square.
ReplyDeleteGrieve, you are already so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe Artificial Intelligence that resides in this building decided that we human underlings need more psychopharmaceuticals to keeps us docile.
ReplyDelete- East Villager