More about Rite Aid's closure on E. 14th St.

As we reported on Monday, the Rite Aid at 516 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B closes at the end of this month... to yield to a new 8-parcel development on this block.

A reader spoke with the head pharmacist and shared this info: The pharmacy will close for good here after tomorrow. All prescriptions will be automatically transferred to the newish Duane Reade on First Avenue at East 14th Street.

Per the reader: "Obviously this is for convenience since the Duane Reade is the closest drug store ... but if anyone wants to switch to another area pharmacy they can by calling the Rite Aid ... or even the Duane Reade after Friday and making arrangements."

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

Rite Aid on E. 14th St. closes at the end of October

Employees at the Rite Aid on East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B received word last week that the store will close at the end of October. A manager confirmed the closure.

This is the latest business to exit ahead of some new, unspecified development via Extell ... Rite Aid joins Rainbow ... The Blarney Cove... Bargain Express ... Petland ... and the ABC Animal Hospital as former block mates. (The laundromat moved toward Avenue B. ABC Animal Hospital is now at 200 Avenue A.)



As we first reported last December, eight parcels consisting of 222 Avenue A and 504 - 530 E. 14th St. (excluding No. 520) were leased for a 99-year period by the respective owner of East Village 14 LLC. As The Real Deal reported, city property records show that Gary Barnett of Extell Development signed a 99-year lease worth $35.14 million to rent eight Sol Goldman-owned properties.

Workers had been test drilling ahead of the construction in recent weeks... we saw workers pack up the Davey drill last Thursday...


[Bobby Williams]

To date, reps for the developer have yet to file any demolition permits or building plans.

Previously on EV Grieve:
East 14th Street exodus continues

The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

Bargain Express has closed on East 14th Street

East 14th Street corridor now nearly business-free ahead of new development

The heartbreaking reality of Rite Aid's former Photo Department

The last vestige of the Photo Department. Replaced by a display of beer and toilet paper. Discarded on East Fifth Street. It just wants to process film. Dream over.

(Digital?) Photo by EVG reader Blake C.

Behold the undersea world of Rite Aid on Avenue D

After transforming the exterior walls of the First Avenue Rite Aid into an outdoor scene... The Royal Kingbee UW, a Bronx-born graffiti artist, turned his attention to the Avenue D outpost this week ... now with an underwater theme...





Above photos by Bobby Williams.

Meanwhile, Goggla, who admirably served as our EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent, received a promotion to Rite Aid Associate Photo Editor... and promptly shared these...

Rite Aid replaces photo department with beer, toilet paper displays

Yes, we heard you LOUD and CLEAR. More Rite Aid coverage!

This development, at the new-look Rite Aid, is courtesy, as always, of EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla.

Tomorrow, sampling the Lime-a-ritas on sale.

We take this seriously.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

How green is Rite Aid's valley?

Life is grand now at Rite Aid, maybe

Breaking: Free cake, sandwiches at Rite Aid's grand reopening

The Rite Aid grand re-opening party is in FULL swing now on First Avenue and East Fifth Street.

Per a reader lured in by the Balloon Arc (trellis?):

Grand opening cake and sandwiches at rite aid! Lots of "new associate" nametags and as reported by earlier commenters, smiles and thank-yous.

Life is grand now at Rite Aid, maybe

The transformation of the Rite Aid on First Avenue at East Fifth Street is apparently complete. Goggla, who has admirably served as our EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent these recent whirlwindy weeks, points out the Balloon Arch (Trellis?) this morning... signage notes a "grand opening (and re-opening!) celebration."



A new-look inside .... a new-look outside... new-look hours (24!) ... an EVG regular even said that the employees were smiling and not making you feel as if you were at, say, the DMV or Peter Stuyvesant Post Office. Will it last?

Meanwhile! Bake A Bone™'s for everyone!


[Goggla]

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

How green is Rite Aid's valley?

Is a Rite Aid now home to the most interesting mural in the East Village?

Strange days that Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street has one of the more interesting murals around... As EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla has been reporting these last few days/weeks... The Royal Kingbee UW, a Bronx-born graffiti artist, has been bringing new life to a moribund store... (the exterior anyway!)

Kingbee and Vase1 have added some more touches...





We hear that Kingbee and Vase1, who specialize in urban and rural landscapes, will also be painting the exterior at the Avenue D Rite Aid one of these days...

Oh, and what about the inside? You know, the Rite Aiders cleaned up the inside and ditched the carpet... and they've introduced several new products, such as!



Remember: Gluten-free doesn't mean taste free.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

How green is Rite Aid's valley?

[Bobby Williams, 2012]

How green is Rite Aid's valley?

Wow. The mural on the East Fifth Street side of Rite Aid is nearly complete. (Maybe just a few more details left?)

This is today's view via EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla. The Royal Kingbee UW, a Bronx-born graffiti artist, has created this mural. Kingbee and Vase1, who specialize in urban and rural landscapes, will also be painting the exterior at the Avenue D Rite Aid...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

Today's Rite Aid update

More progress here on First Avenue and East Fifth Street...

EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla notes that the mural is courtesy of The Royal Kingbee UW, a Bronx-born graffiti artist. Kingbee and Vase1, who specialize in urban and rural landscapes, will also be painting the exterior at the Avenue D Rite Aid...

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

See the forest for the Rite Aid

Quick update from EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla ... who figures the RA outpost here at East Fifth Street is about another-day-of-painting away from completing its transformation from Big Box to Big Forest...



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

Rite Aid's enchanted forest

EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla checks in with the latest on the mural update on the East Fifth Street side of, uh, Rite Aid... Enchanted?

Indeed, I'm suddenly and strangely compelled to clip a coupon to save 40 percent off my next purchase of Preference by L'Oreal.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

[Updated] As the Rite Aid turns (colors)

[July 7]

The Rite Aid on First Avenue at East Fifth Street continues to delight and amaze, though not really. First came the interior makeover, then the Rite Aiders turned their attention to the exterior, where workers painted it blue... before adding a garden theme.

And now!

EVG Senior First Avenue Rite Aid Correspondent Goggla reports that the East Fifth Street side is getting a design as well... too early to tell exactly what this design will be...





Any guesses before we see the final version?

Updated 7-17

A better view this morning via Goggla...

Rite Aid continues to evolve on First Avenue

The transformation continues here at First Avenue and East Fifth Street ... there's now a garden theme on the exterior... the plants and flowers will actually grow a foot or two while you stand in the check-out line...

Rite Aid is turning blue on First Avenue

More exciting news to report from the World of Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street... first, they cleaned up the inside and ditched the carpet...

Now, workers are painting the exterior, as the headline likely tipped you off... Goggla shared this from yesterday afternoon...



Perhaps they will consider bringing back the armpit tanning banner for the front window...

Breaking (perhaps): First Avenue Rite Aid now carpet free

Exciting news to report from everyone's favorite store, Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street!

Goggla writes in:

"Whoa! The carpet is gone — the place is looking fancified! Not sure this will improve the hellish line experience, which is now blocked from the aisles. The lighting is very romantic, though."

Indeed!

Of course, at the same time, there isn't any carpet now to absorb a shoplifter from getting tackled onto the floor.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Local man decides to hack off arm while enduring a 127-hour line at Rite-Aid

[Photo by Goggla from 2011]

Here's what happens when you allegedly try to shoplift a pair of socks at the 1st Ave. Rite Aid

The Post reports today a 29-year-old man allegedly tried to take a pair of socks from the Rite Aid at East Fifth Street.

"When [the man] realized he’d been spotted, he started running, smashing into displays and sending toothpaste and bottles of mouthwash flying. But he was soon nabbed."

The NYPD reportedly charged the would-be thief with petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal mischief.

No word of what impact this had on the always long wait at the checkout line.

[The online version of this story didn't contain a photo credit]

It has begun (aka breaking): Christmas tree stand going up outside Rite Aid

The annual passage (or something): Workers began assembling the Christmas holiday tree stand outside Rite Aid on First Avenue and East Fifth Street last, per EVG Twitter friend @JorgeO ... No word just yet on when the trees will arrive ... Meanwhile, inside Rite Aid, the 12-ounce canisters of Original Gourmet Butter Cookies are on sale (with wellness+ card) for $1.69 through Saturday.

Santa, baby

Outside the Rite Aid on First Avenue. Photo by Bobby Williams.

Local man decides to hack off arm while enduring a 127-hour line at Rite-Aid

Yeaahhhh. Our friend Goggla posted this photo the other day from everyone's favorite Rite-Aid on First Avenue at Fifth Street....

And Happy Halloween...