I'm with all of those above who think Eric is the best pharmacist ever know! I'm going to tell him how much he was appreciated & will be sorely missed! But that store was in fact always deserted & I was surprised when it opened in the first place since there was a Duane Reade in the same building in the 90's & a fairy new one just two blocks north. — Betsy Kaufman on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Thank you for publishing these photos. Very important. — Janet Goldner on “America Runs on Immigrants”

Agreed with Ms. Gilbert. The pharmacists at that location Theresa and Eric are absolutely standout. I hope they will remain nearby so we can still see them and receive their particular brand of superior customer service. — Eve Taylor on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Anejo is a renewal of its existing license, presumably. From nyc dot gov: "Licenses are valid for up to two years and expire on April 15, May 15, September 15, or December 15 depending on the last digit of the license number assigned to business and the type of sidewalk cafe. [...] If the licensee plans to continue operating, the licensee must submit their renewal application, required documents, and fees at least 15 days before the license expires." Sidewalk Cafés Cafés with a DCA License Anejo Tribeca LLC Doing business as: Anejo Tribeca 31 WALKER ST NEW YORK, NY 10013 License Number: 2009830-DCA License Status: Active Expiration Date: 15 Dec 2016 Café Type: Unenclosed Maximum Size (sq ft): 244 Maximum # of Tables: 12 Maximum # of Chairs: 24 — James on A New Tenant at Santos Party House

thank you for covering the cb1 meetings. they are so important but easily overlooked. — safe as milk on A New Tenant at Santos Party House

Ford is open, so there! Private party there tonight. They have a big screen with subway departure times in case you don't want to buy a car. Also work is being done on at least one of the stores on the balcony of the west concourse, and on the upper level of south concourse--whatever the coffee place there is called. And the glass at the #1 train entrance is almost completely installed, so you will be able to stand on the floor of the oculus and see the train going by above you (if they ever finish it). — Hudson River on Seen & Heard: Did Disney Bail on the World Trade Center Mall?

I've never been inside the place but I think that even when it was the Pussycat, it wasn't always a strip club. I know respectable people who went there for the bands that were playing. I used to get off the subway there sometimes 11-12 at night and the crowd on the sidewalk wasn't scary or anything. It was better than the creepy construction mess that's there now. — Hudson River on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

I made the same comment about the similarity of the name to the sexual act, and the manager said they don't pronounce it that way and seemed annoyed. I enjoyed the Pho very much. Very good broth and flavorful ingredients. — Cheryl on New Kid on the Block: Pho King

I love looking at that old picture of Chamber's street. Pretty desultory area back then. — Janet on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

See also: http://www.glassian.org/Prism/Gallery/NewYork/1910.html "These street photographs, taken as part of a subway insurance survey, show typical vault lights. In NYC, they were everywhere. Negatives: Brian Merlis Collection." http://www.glassian.org/Prism/Gallery/NewYork/1920.html "These 1920s photographs -- mostly part of a subway survey of lower NYC, Tribeca-Soho and Greenwich Village -- show typical vault lights. They were everywhere. Negatives: Brian Merlis Collection." — James on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

Cool to see the sidewalk vault "lights" in front. Also note the El running down Greenwich in the distance, as well as column in the middle of the sidewalk for El running along West Broadway. — Robert Ripps on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

LOL!!!!!! Good one. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

Maybe it's Hamilton Tavern by day, the Pussycat Lounge by night... New slogan: "The Room Where It Happens." — Erik Torkells on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

Pussycat Lounge renewal? That address is where the new Hamilton Tavern will be opening. Is it possible that they are just using the same license from the Pussycat Lounge for a whole new purpose? Is that allowed? Or is the Hamilton Lounge going to be a strip club? YIPES!!!!! — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Seen & Heard: Downtown Connection Route Change

They are also closing on Broadway between 75-76th street Plus they closed all 10 walk in clinics in the city, and shut down their distribution center in Queens, laying off 200 people. This is a big issue for people on medications who rely on their pharmacies for life saving medicines.-- many pharmacies are not certified for certain critical medications, and finding a new one that is can be very difficult. If Duane Reade didn't have so many pharmacies this would not be a big deal -- we can order everything they carry online at much lower prices -- but companies like this that are so deeply involved in people's healthcare need to be more committed to helping their customers than to their own corporate profits. — Giovanni on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

I know this is a bit late, but was just checking up on "Kiki" with hopes high on word of a return. I loved this store, I looked forward to spending time and money there.It was tasteful, saucy, and fun . Don't have many places to turn for elegant lingerie with a twist. — Yvonne on Kiki de Montparnasse Has Closed

Fred's, a small drugstore chain, may become national player Updated: Dec 23, 2016 - 4:37 PM NEW YORK (AP) - Fred's, a small regional drugstore chain from Memphis, Tennessee, has had a very good week. It all started Tuesday, when Fred's said it would pay $950 million to buy 865 stores that Rite Aid needed to sell in order to appease anti-trust regulators and close its $9.4 billion buyout deal with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. The deal will more than double Fred's current store count of 650. CEO Michael Bloom called it a "transformative event" for the company. Fred's stock has soared since, rising about 75 percent this week, its biggest one-week gain since its shares began trading nearly 25 years ago. The company, founded in 1947, sells cosmetics, food and runs about 370 pharmacy departments within its stores. Fred's lost money in the past two fiscal years, and had been in the process of closing stores that weren't performing well. Its revenue last year was $2.2 billion, compared to Walgreens' $117.4 billion and Rite Aid's $30.7 billion. Fred's said buying the Rite Aid stores will turn it into a "national competitor," possibly helping it expand outside of the Southeast. More than half of Fred's stores are in Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee or Alabama. Rite Aid's 4,600 stores are spread out around the country, but its biggest presence is along the coasts, in states such as California, New York and New Jersey. The companies won't announce which stores Fred's will buy until the deal between Walgreens and Rite Aid closes, which is expected to happen in the first half of next year. And Fred's could buy more Rite Aid stores if the U.S. government requires it to. Walgreens and Rite Aid are expected to be left with about 12,000 stores. Analysts at Raymond James said it was a "great deal" for Fred's, estimating that it would be paying about $1.1 million for each Rite Aid store, a fraction of what Walgreens is estimated to be paying for Rite Aid stores. Fred's also caught the eye of a New York hedge fund. Alden Global Capital disclosed Thursday that it has a nearly 25 percent stake in Fred's, making it the chain's largest shareholder. Alden Global Capital plans to speak with Fred's management about its performance and strategic plans, it said in a government filing. A representative for Fred's did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Shares of Fred's Inc. rose 82 cents, or 4.2 percent, to close Friday at $20.20. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — James on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

These closures may be related to the Walgreen's-Rite Aid merger: New York Post BUSINESS EXCLUSIVE Private equity firm could be a white knight for Walgreen-Rite Aid merger By Josh Kosman January 27, 2017 | 2:24pm | Updated Private-equity giant Cerberus Capital has emerged as a possible white knight if the merger of Walgreen and Rite Aid runs into static with regulators, The Post has learned. The New York-based buyout firm, headed by reclusive billionaire Steven Feinberg, is now interested in acquiring the 865 drugstores that Walgreen has agreed to divest to settle antitrust concerns about the $9.7 billion deal, sources said. In fact, Cerberus had participated in Walgreen’s December auction of the stores in question, losing to a winning bid of $950 million from regional drug chain Fred’s, according to two sources close to the situation. That’s despite the fact that Cerberus, which made its losing bid through the Albertsons grocery chain it owns, had submitted a higher-dollar offer for the stores, the sources said. Walgreen had rejected Cerberus’ bid partly because it was concerned the Federal Trade Commission would not approve a private-equity buyer, according to the sources. The sentiment among regulators, insiders said, has been that buyout firms typically do not restore competition to a sector, since they buy and sell their businesses within a few years. Now, however, the FTC is expressing concerns about the viability of Fred’s as a buyer, as $950 million looks like a big bite to swallow for the Memphis, Tenn.-based chain. Seeing a potential opportunity, Cerberus officials have recently reiterated their interest in buying the divested stores, according to one source close to the process. Cerberus “denies it ever contacted the FTC about this transaction or the bidding process,” a Cerberus spokesman said. Doubts about the deal’s approval have kept a lid on Rite Aid shares. Although Walgreen has agreed to pay $9 a share for its rival, Rite Aid’s shares were recently off 5.6 percent at $6.40. Investor worries are apparently growing, as the merger agreement technically expired on Friday. Nevertheless, “I’m not aware of the Walgreen’s merger being in danger of collapsing,” a source with direct knowledge of the deal said. Walgreen’s or Rite Aid can walk away from their $9.7 billion merger starting Friday, but neither party is expected to do so, sources said. They do not need to extend the merger termination date, but can simply elect not to terminate the deal, according to a well-placed source. In addition to Cerberus’ willingness to step in and buy the stores, one source said the FTC is not preparing a lawsuit to block the merger. — James on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

23rd & 3rd Duane Reade is also closing. My bldg has 350 people, dorm around the corner & bus stop in front of the store. Store on 2nd Ave but staff is nasty. Made all store employees move stock around the store where you can' t find it. Regional Mgr made decision but doesn't work or live near. — Karen on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

I agree with Sara. Theresa and Eric were terrific. They even called me to remind me to get my flu shot (which I did) and they administered it very well. Could always find what I needed there even, in a pinch, milk. A clean well run place that will be missed. — Terry on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Contact Duane Reade and see if Theresa and/or Eric will be reassigned to the Duane Reade a few blocks north, further down Broadway, or on Greenwich Street. Maybe (hopefully) they will be. — Hey Sara on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Finally found pharmacists that actually knew my name and CARED! I have never had such personal and excellent service! Teresa and Eric - You are the best! This is really disappointing news. — Sara Gilbert on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

I heart that building. — en_b on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Never understood why they needed this there, but I liked it a) because nearest to me, b) decent hours, c) cleaned up a lovely building from longterm eyesore. But it was never busy, true. — AMB on Duane Reade Is Closing a Tribeca Store

Some say it was the strangest online pick-up ever attempted . . . — Paul on Seen & Heard: Groundhog Day Loft Tour