Back in Chicago our local drug store of choice was Walgreens. Their prices were good, the staff was personable and they were everywhere! For our Canadian readers think Tim Horton’s as a drug store.
Here in Los Angeles the drug store of choice is Rite-Aid. The nearest Walgreens is 3 miles away which isn’t exactly convienent. There are three Rite-Aid locations within a mile of us, all within walking distance.
Our closest locations is a mere one block away, and we have visited for various odds and ends. There is always a line, and if you happen to be a patron during the lunch hour I hope you have at 5-10 minutes to stand around. I wouldn’t exactly describe the staff as pleasant but hey I am there to pick up a few things, not shopping for new friends.
Twice H has been told to visit a different location because they don’t have what she needs in stock. They don’t have pills in a pharmacy? Two months in a row? Well things happen I guess …
So this morning before doing some grocery shopping we head up to Rite-Aid to fill the prescription. The gates at the pharmacy were closed so hey we must be early.
“Excuse me, can you tell us what time the pharmacy opens?”
“It’s closed today.”
“Oh, ummm should we go to the one on Broadway?”
“No, they are closed too. You have to go to 3rd and Vermont”
What? That is 3 miles away! As we walked outside and pondered the hassle of getting the car and driving out of our way I had a thought.
What if you are really sick on a Sunday, need medicine on doctor’s orders and you are visiting or live downtown? Apparently you would just get sicker because you can’t get a prescription filled here.
How is that possible?
Chalk this up to one of those things not understood by local businesses and government as they work hard to move people back into the downtown core. I’ve talked before about the post office not being open on the weekends, and not past 4:30 p.m.. I also took the time to talk about Bank of America’s branch hours which make no sense except for those conducting business.
But this one is over the top because it has a direct impact on people’s health. So I come back to the statement of what do do you if your sick in the city on a Sunday and need prescription medicine?
There is a 24 hour Walgreens at the corner of Vermont and 6th Street, one block from the Vermont/Wilshire subway station and the 720 rapid bus stop.
Thanks Bert – I actually visited that Walgreens a while back when I needed something I couldn’t find at Rite-Aid.
But one shouldn’t have to head all the way down there on a Sunday to get something, no?
I noticed the Rite-Aids out here are wayyy different – like, depending on which store you go to. The one closer to my house here in Pasadena is way smaller and doesn’t carry the same items as the one near my old apartment in Pasadena.
Some seem really really OLD, too.
Agreed that there should be more late options downtown, but I think that will eventually happen.
I remember in Manhattan in 1977 there was ONE 24 hour pharmacy in the entire city, next to Grand Central Station. My, how times change.
Many of the Rite Aids used to be Thrifty Drugs. Our hometown chain. Rite Aid is from Pennsylvania, originally.
That’s why Rite Aid has “Thrifty Ice Cream” counters. They were geniuses for keeping the ice cream counters when they bought out Thrifty. That’s good ice cream.
That’s why they are old. Only a few of them are new construction.