Duane Reade's Bedford Avenue Beer Room Is a Hit with Hipsters

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When Duane Reade opened on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg this past fall, wary hipsters were delighted to discover that the chain carried beer. And not just six-packs of Bud, either—the drugstore has a beer bar where employees who double as beer sherpas offer shoppers advice on a selection of local and hard-to-find ales. You can't buy a pint on-site, but you can get your growler refilled, and because the chain offers beer tastings, you can even indulge in some drunk drugstore shopping.

According to today's Times, the move has paid off: "Duane Reade executives said that the Williamsburg store was now the chain’s top location for beer sales, and that the average amount spent per visit at the store had risen since opening, as more people try the beer." It's all part of Duane Reade's new attempt to tailor their individual shops to the communities around them. In Harlem and the Bronx, DR carries African-American hair products; Bronx stores also carry more Goya products, and midtown locations offer cut flowers and the occasional fresh-baked pie.
· Bedford's New Duane Reade Wins Over The Neighborhood With Beer [Racked NY]
· A Duane Reade in Brooklyn With a Beer Bar [NYT]