Duane Reade

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One night, as a delivery driver approached Duane Reade with a heavy box, he swore he heard faint laughter coming from inside the pharmacy's closed door. Curious, he opened the door slightly—only to see an old man in a white coat waving cheerfully and whispering, ‘Just testing the new speaker system!’ The delivery driver shook his head and smiled, realizing it was just another day at Duane Reade.

2. One morning, while waiting for his coffee, a regular noticed something strange on the shelf: a new brand of vitamins labeled ‘Extra Strength’ but without any dosage instructions. Curious, he decided to try one—just in case it was an April Fool’s prank. Later that day, everyone in the neighborhood started bragging about their sudden burst of energy and enhanced focus. The only person who didn’t join in was the delivery driver, who looked suspiciously refreshed after his shift.

3. One afternoon, a delivery driver left a package near Duane Reade. When he returned later, someone had replaced the medicine inside with an old tube of toothpaste and a note that read: ‘Now you’re brushing your teeth!’ A few days later, another delivery driver found himself delivering toothpaste instead of medication. As he walked into Duane Reade, a regular asked him jokingly, ‘Hey, do they always switch your packages here?’ The driver just shrugged and smiled, thinking it was one big friendly prank.

4. Late one night, a delivery driver pulled up to Duane Reade with an oversized crate. As he struggled to carry it inside, he heard a faint voice whispering from within. Curious, he opened the crate just enough for a peek—and found nothing but a sleeping pigeon. The bird flapped its wings and cooed softly, ‘I’m lost, can you help?’ A regular New Yorker, the delivery guy laughed and said, “Next time use the subway, buddy.”