Skim City: ATM at Avenue B Duane Reade hiding a high-tech heist

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

First of all, yes — that was the Secret Service at the Duane Reade/Walgreens on Avenue B and Second Street this morning.

The Secret Service was part of a multi-agency investigation after a skimming device was discovered in the store's Citi ATM ... part of an ongoing federal investigation into fraud known as Operation Flagship. 

The device — a slim, nearly invisible metal bar with a pinhole camera — was attached to the right-hand side of the ATM and designed to steal card information and PIN codes, which are then sold on the dark web. 

Law enforcement officials on the scene showed me the skimmer but requested that it not be photographed or touched as the device is part of an active investigation.

According to investigators, these skimmers are frequently found in lower-income neighborhoods and areas where EBT cards are commonly used. 

The agencies involved in the operation included the U.S. Secret Service, the USSS Police and Criminal Investigation Division, and the NYPD Task Force. While the Secret Service is known primarily for presidential protection, it also investigates complex financial crimes, including fraud. 

Despite the presence of multiple law enforcement agencies, operations inside Walgreens appeared to continue as usual, with staff largely unfazed. 

Also, no one ran out of the store with a 12-pack of Budweiser while this investigation took place.

Another local Duane Reade by Walgreens closes

The Duane Reade by Walgreens on the SW corner of Broadway and Fourth Street closed yesterday. (H/T to the EVG reader who shared this info.) 

 Prescription holders here are being sent to the CVS on Bleecker...

As USA Today reported last month: 

The thinning of Walgreens locations has been in the works. Walgreens said in October 2024 it planned to close about 1,200 underperforming stores across the U.S. as a strategy to offset declining profits resulting from low drug reimbursement rates and sluggish retail sales. 

This is the latest Walgreens or Duane Reade to shutter around here in the past 5-6 years. The oddly configured Walgreens on 14th Street and Fourth Avenue closed in January 2022, the Walgreens on Astor Place closed in August 2020, and three neighborhood Duane Reade by Walgreens locations shut down: The outpost on Avenue D at Houston and First Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street shuttered in November 2019, while the storefront on 10th Street and Third Avenue shut down in early March 2019. 

Still, it seems like there are still a lot of Duane Reades around.

Checking in on the USA Super Stores, opening soon on 3rd Avenue and 10th Street

Here's a progress report on the USA Super Stores (yes plural) coming to the former Duane Reade on the SW corner of Third Avenue and 10th Street...

Workers have been filling the space with large displays of items, including Marcal toilet paper ...

... and tins of McKenzie & Lloyds Danish Style Butter Cookies ...

We first reported on this pending arrival on Feb. 3. Looks like the place will be open SOON.

USA Super Stores have been opening in former Duane Reade/Walgreens outposts around the city, including Avenue D and Second Street.

This Duane Reade by Walgreens closed in early March 2020 ... several years after expanding and gobbling up several small storefronts, forcing Excel Art and Framing Store and East Village Cheese (which was never the same) to relocate.

Oddly configured Walgreens is closing on Union Square

The Walgreens on the SE corner of 14th Street and Fourth Avenue is closing on Feb. 17, per the window signage here...

This comes following this branch's pharmacy pulling out at the end of 2021. Customers of the location are instructed to visit other Walgreens or Duane Reades, including the big one about 75 feet to the west at 1 Union Square.

The Walgreens here was renovated and expanded into the space above the quick-serve restaurants on Fourth Avenue back in 2010... (this far-flung layout is what the headline meant by "oddly configured" ...)

Anyway, this is the latest Walgreens or Duane Reade to shutter... the Walgreens on Astor Place closed in August 2020 ... three neighborhood Duane Reade by Walgreens locations have closed in recent years. The outpost on Avenue D at Houston and First Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street shuttered in November 2019 while the storefront on 10th Street and Third Avenue shut down in early March 2019.

Duane Reade, fully visible again on Avenue B

After what seems like years, workers have finally removed the sidewalk bridge from outside the Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street... crews had been working on the apartment complex here called The Villager. (Onetime home The Gas Station, aka Art Gallery Space 2B!) 

Thanks to Stacie Joy for the pic!

Earlier today on Avenue Bee at 2nd Street

Via the Citizen app...

Duane Reade by Walgreens closing on 10th Street and Third Avenue

Store closing signs are now up at the Duane Reade by Walgreens location on the southwest corner of Third Avenue and 10th Street. The last day for this location is March 2. (Thank you to Steven for the photos!)

Pharmacy customers are being transferred to the DR on 14th Street and Third Avenue.

In late 2015-early 2016, the drug store expanded into the two adjacent spaces along here, causing retail tenants Excel Art and Framing Store and East Village Cheese (which was never the same) to relocate.

This also marks the third Duane Reade by Walgreens to close nearby in the past few months. The outpost on Avenue D at Houston and First Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street shuttered last November.

This block-long strip of shops has been under cover of a sidewalk bridge now for years (one estimate places it here toward the end of 2015)...



In May 2016, the FDNY responded to a threat of bricks falling from the facade at the building, officially 115 E. Ninth St.

2 neighborhood Duane Reade locations are closing this week

After four years in business, the Duane Reade by Walgreens outpost on Avenue D at Houston (officially 310 E. Second St. for some reason) is closing today (Nov. 6) here in the retail space of the Adele residential complex.



In addition, the Duane Reade on First Avenue just north of 14th Street is also shutting down after today. DR relocated here from around the corner on 14th Street in 2013 ... setting up their drug store right next door to a CVS.


[1st Avenue DR via Steven]

In August, Walgreens announced that it was shutting 200 stores nationwide to slash costs by a $1.5 billion.

Some background via CBS:

The Deerfield, Ill.-based company operates over 18,000 stores worldwide, including the Duane Reade pharmacies around New York City. Walgreens acquired the familiar New York pharmacy chain in 2010.

Walgreens also acquired almost 2,000 Rite Aid stores in a $17.2 billion deal last year.

In June Walgreens reported a 24 percent decline in quarterly net income and predicted that annual earnings would be roughly flat with the prior year. Walgreens has been hit by challenges including reimbursement cuts and lower price increases for branded drugs.

According to published reports, there are 91 Duane Reade locations in NYC, down from 253 less than 10 years ago, when people figured a Duane Reade would be the new tenant in any newly vacated retail space.

Around here, you can still find a Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street, 10th Street and Third Avenue, Third Avenue and 14th Street, and Union Square.

Thanks to @artisanmatters for the Avenue D tip! And to dwg for the First Avenue scoop!

Rent a former Duane Reade on Broadway

The Duane Reade on Broadway (with an entrance on Eighth Street) is vacant and on the market. I don't know when this location closed. The retail listing for the space (rent available upon request) is dated from Sept. 22.

Anyway, there's a Walgreens nearby...



The Duane Reade further south on Broadway near Bleecker closed this past summer...



Meanwhile, the Duane Reade on Union Square is also available for sub-leasing.

Several Duane Reades have been closing around the city, including three on the Upper West Side and one on Canal and Broadway.

Union Square Duane Reade available for sublease

An EVG tipster shared the marketing materials with info on subleasing the Duane Reade on Union Square.

There aren't many details about leasing the 12,790 square-foot-space. The rental rate is negotiable. The possession date is this month. Find a PDF with the flyer here.

Several Duane Reades have been closing around the city, including three on the Upper West Side and one on Canal and Broadway.

Parent company Walgreens has an expanded location right there at 14th Street and Fourth Avenue, and there's a Duane Reade on 14th Street and Third Avenue and 10th Street and Third Avenue.

The Union Square Duane Reade opened in the summer of 2010 in the former Virgin Megastore.

Anti-flu shot campaign extends to Avenue B

Spotted near Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street. Three defaced signs makes if an official trend. (See here.)

Thanks to EVG reader Noah Shannon for the photo!

Duane Reade's efforts to offer flu shots still don't seem all that appealing

At the Duane Reade on Third Avenue at both Street...

Oct. 20!


[Photo by @edenbrower]

This week!

There's more of a sense of urgency with getting a flu shot at Duane Reade this flu season

Spotted by @edenbrower outside Duane Reade on Third Avenue and 10th Street...don't put it off!

1 explanation for the shortage of Rogaine and Crest Whitestrips at the Avenue B Duane Reade

Police say that two suspects have knocked off eight Duane Reades throughout NYC, taking 44 boxes of Rogaine and 54 boxes of Crest Whitestrips, among other items, in the process, DNAinfo reports.

The East Village was, unfortunately, not immune to this crime spree, as the Duane Reade on Avenue B and Second Street was hit on Aug. 13. During this early-morning visit, the suspects allegedly stole 15 boxes of Rogaine, two boxes of over-the-counter medication and 14 boxes of Crest whitening strips, DNAinfo reports.

Given the number of Duane Reade locations in the area (800? 9,000?), we thought you should be aware of these incidents and think about backup brands to Rogaine and Crest just in case.

Though not mentioned in the article, it's likely the suspects are taking the stuff to resell (based on previous accounts of these stolen items around the country)... as opposed to making some kind of homemade drug or peroxide-based dessert. (A box of Crest whitening strips cost upwards of $40.) There isn't any ingredient in a teeth-whitening strip that can be considered dangerous. And minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine. It may cause dizziness. This effect may worsen if you take it with alcohol or jump up and down really quickly.

The DNAinfo piece has a description and photo of the suspects.

Exclusive 1st look at the expanded Duane Reade on 3rd Avenue

About 18 months after first hearing that the Duane Reade on Third Avenue and East 10th Street would be expanding into the two adjacent storefronts... we finally got our first look at the expanded space...

Woo!



Looks pretty Duane Reade-y.

No word on when the work on the new, longer drug store will be ready for Duane Reade-ing.

The two previous businesses that were Duane Reade-d here between Ninth Street and 10th Street are in new locations — Excel Art and Framing Store on Third Avenue and East Village Cheese on Seventh Street.

The large Duane Reade will be a welcome addition in this area so underserved by retail pharmacy chains. (KIDDING.)

Gutting some 3rd Avenue storefronts

Renovations continue on several of the storefronts along Third Avenue between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street...

Workers are tearing down the walls and gutting the former P&P Convenience Store, East Village Cheese (now on Seventh Street!) and Excel Art and Framing Store (now on the other side of Third Avenue!)...



...this is what the old EV Cheese space looks like...





Per the DOB work permit (in their ALL-CAP style): RENOVATION OF EXITING RETAIL SPACE. WORK TO INCLUDE PARTITIONS, FLOORING, CEILING AND FINISHES.

The rumor is that the Duane Reade on the corner of East 10th Street will expand into these spaces to make an even longer Duane Reade.



Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese (74 comments)

East Village Cheese makes move to 7th Street official

Checking in on the Duane Reade coming soon to the Adele's retail space on Avenue D

We spotted the Duane Reade coming soon signs last July here in the retail space at the new Adele residential complex on Avenue D and East Houston. (Officially 310 E. Second St.)

Anyway, work continues on the space… which will not be just a Duane Reade but a Duane Reade by Walgreens… (All new Duane Reades will have this co-branding.)



The location will also include a Photo Department…



As previously noted, a Duane Reade might be needed on Avenue D… given that the Rite Aid between East Seventh Street and East Sixth Street will close to make way for the 12-story, mixed-used apartment building going up at the address.

Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese

A tipster tells us that the Duane Reade on Third Avenue at East 10th Street is expanding, and will gobble up the adjoining spaces that include the 21-year-old Excel Art and Framing Store and East Village Cheese.

The owner of the Frame Shop received word this past Saturday that his lease will not be renewed; "that a handshake deal was already made with Duane Reade in early December."

Per the tipster: "Both of these small businesses are very important to the community."



The convenient store and clothing boutique Project 36 have already been emptied out ahead of the expansion…



The tipster noted that there's already a huge Walgreens on Astor Place. Not to mention the recently expanded Walgreens on East 14th Street and Fourth Avenue … and the Duane Reade locations on East 14th Street and Third Avenue … and East 14th Street and Broadway.

And this won't be the first time that Duane Reade looks to KO beloved neighborhood businesses.

Headless Duane Reade shopper now has a head

Some closure on one of the most important news stories ever. Live from the Duane Reade on East Second Street and Avenue B.

Last weekend!

Monday!



Now!



----

Role model…

[EVG file photo]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Headless Duane Reade shopper giving East 2nd Street the creeps

Headless Duane Reade shopper slowly but surely getting a head

Last weekend at the Duane Reade on East Second Street and Avenue B!

Today!



Eventually!

[EVG file photo]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Headless Duane Reade shopper giving East 2nd Street the creeps