Walgreen's Panopticon at State and Randolph

I’ve been eying this thing with a combination of bemusement, anxiety, and awe from the #6 bus for quite a while, without ever finding occasion to enter. Last night, feeling mildly peckish, I figured I’d use the search for a snack as an excuse to skip a bus and scope it out.
I cannot recall an environment making me feel more closely observed or deeply suspected since passing through Heathrow Airport as a scruffy student during the “troubles.”
Approaching the entrance I passed 3 police chatting with a uniformed Walgreen managerial type on the sidewalk. I wondered if there had just been an incident of some kind to account for the concentration of uniforms but saw no evidence of it. They eyed me casually but unmistakably as I entered.
The immediate effect of the space is of being on the set of one of those 70s sci-fi movies about a dystopian near future. Washed in uniform florescent blue-white, huge islands of circular shiny steel displays; giant self-serve slushy-smoothie-icee-juicy-fro-yo-latte-soft-serve-goop machines with over-sized levers and nozzles pointing at you; smiling Walbots behind the counters, acres of space—both vertical and horizontal—and virtually no customers. Just eerie quiet.
As I gazed at the landscape a petite security guard passed me, made pretty deliberate eye-contact, and moved on. As did I.
At first glance the place seems to want to look like a Whole Foods in space. But on inspection, the piles of neatly wrapped maki, sandwiches, salads, etc. look like about the same level of stuff as the late-night sandwich truck guy brought by the dorm in the 70s. On the shelves, brand-name items seem a bit overpriced; sometimes more than a bit. The new “Nice” house brand seems like decent value. All the merchandising is geared to making you buy 2 or more to get a discount. Nothing seems to be on sale per single unit.
I thought about trying something exuded from one of the giant machines, but everything was about $5 for the smallest cup, so I passed. I then went into museum visitor mode. And every time I came to the end of an aisle, or circled around a giant display, there was the petite security guard, just happening by me.
Perhaps the most bizarre section is the liquor area, replete with bottles of wine marked at well over $100, and many, many in the $50-and-up range. Who is it for? Guests of the super-pricey hotels for whom this clipping is still not as bad as the one provided by the hotel itself? Can’t imagine.
I circled the joint, my coat closed, my backpack secure on my back, hands jammed in my pockets, never so much as handling any of the merch., and everywhere I turned, there was little Big Sister, just coincidentally passing the other way.
Finally, finding nothing whose taste, size, and price-point intersected, I headed out. At the door, the larger security operative gave me a last, full-frontal blast of stink-eye, as I strode by him, feeling like the doomed leader of the Resistance, about to be vaporized as soon as I hit the airlock.
I’m really not sure what this thing is, or means to be. It’s absolutely gigantic, and expensive looking, but it’s not a Whole Foods, or even quite a Target. It’s not cheap, but its product is not really upmarket either. Maybe the theatre district crowds will stream in. But I would have thought they would either go into a bar/restaurant to sit and socialize, or back home. Of course, no one ever got rich asking for my business assessment.

mrbarolo wrote:full-frontal blast of stink-eye

mrbarolo wrote:I’m really not sure what this thing is, or means to be. It’s absolutely gigantic, and expensive looking, but it’s not a Whole Foods, or even quite a Target. It’s not cheap, but its product is not really upmarket either.

And yet, ironically, their actual name for the liquor section, identified by this signage IIRC, is--get this--Upmarket!

I hate the kind of treatment you got. I didn't get it there (we actually had a kind of fun experience going through the place), but have had it elsewhere and know what it feels like.

Thanks! I have been curious about this place since it was mentioned on the news.

I am curious about the security scruntiny, and I don't know a delicate way of asking this..
are you a person-of-color? Or do they seem to be equal opportunity Stink-Eyers?

And their Buy 2 or more policy for sale prices is the number one reason I do not shop at Walgreens.

Anyway, I will be curious to see how this plays out. If it lasts or not, or needs to be switched up at some point.

Thanks again.

I'm assuming they were suspicious due to the "closed jacket, backpack, and hands in pocket" while being in a high tourist area. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Just my speculation.

Anyways, and more to the point, it doesn't sound like this Walgreens experiment is working

mrbarolo wrote:...They eyed me casually but unmistakably as I entered.
...As I gazed at the landscape a petite security guard passed me, made pretty deliberate eye-contact, and moved on. As did I.

...I circled the joint, my coat closed, my backpack secure on my back, hands jammed in my pockets, never so much as handling any of the merch., and everywhere I turned, there was little Big Sister, just coincidentally passing the other way.
...Finally, finding nothing whose taste, size, and price-point intersected, I headed out. At the door, the larger security operative gave me a last, full-frontal blast of stink-eye, as I strode by him, feeling like the doomed leader of the Resistance, about to be vaporized as soon as I hit the airlock.

I would have turned this into a grand game of cat and mouse the likes of which most people would find amazing.
I'm tempted to pop in next time I'm in the area, and set aside 15 minutes for a walk through.

Bonnie_Blue/Seebee: 1) Yes, they are commendably equal-opportunity stink-eyers. 2) That's sort of what I did. It was late and I needed to get home, so I didn't take it as far as one might in the direction of the farcically extreme, but I did keep roaming and experimenting to see what obscure corners I could lure my Javert into following me to. But still, really, just because I wanted to see the place and what it was all about.

As to the up-thread comment about what might have seemed suspicious, I would have thought that having one's backpack fully shouldered rather than hanging down and possibly secretly open would allay suspicion. Ditto a fully zipped coat, rather than one open for the quick secreting of things into inner pockets. Ditto again, hands jammed into pants pockets as opposed to free and handling things. I thought I was looking as law-abiding as possible. Perhaps it's just my aura.

TCK wrote:Anyways, and more to the point, it doesn't sound like this Walgreens experiment is working

On what do you base that?

Our unanimous (three of us) reaction to our walkthrough was that we hope the experiment does succeed and provides a model for future locations. We thought it very well might.

I don't like the treatment mrbarolo received, but other than that, I predict enough others will have a positive reaction to the place to give Walgreen's some encouragement.

TCK wrote:Anyways, and more to the point, it doesn't sound like this Walgreens experiment is working

Based on what?

I've been in there a few times & its been busy each time - its a very popular spot to pick up lunch or a snack in the area. There's a lot of pre-packaged stuff, but they'll also make sushi, sandwiches, juices & smoothies to order. The cheeses & other food items aren't optimally packaged, but its filling a need in the area, & people seem to be taking advantage of it. The bakery selection in particular is solid.

Ditto about the second floor area - they offer a lot of exclusive cosmetics brands unavailable elsewhere in Chicago & they've got a very good (& incredibly busy) nail bar up there (including $10 manicures, which is a bargain in this part of Chicago).

BTW - this store model is what Walgreen's uses in NY under its Duane Reade division, they've got a long history of success with it in NY.

Just to clarify, I have nothing particular against Walgreen's, either pre- or post-visit. It was just a somewhat peculiar, somewhat amusing one-time experience to write up. Probably, on a busy Sat. afternoon, one would not feel the same amount of general scrutiny in the same way.
Nor would I offer an opinion on the current of future success of this model. It was a ghost town at around 9PM on a Mon. Not a significant amount of data there.
My personal preference is toward the smaller neighborhood scale of shop vs. the mega-plex in almost all things, from movies to groceries. I'd love to see a moderate sized drugstore with a decent, old-style lunch counter and about 20 stools. But that's neither here nor there.

There is a dormitory nearby for students who attend the various loop colleges -- I suspect that Walgreens is heavily frequented by same ... and if you dress like a student (many of which shoplift as a lark or [post]adolescent confusion/rebellion -- the stink eyes will watch ... it's like racial profiling but not racial

SGFoxe wrote:There is a dormitory nearby for students who attend the various loop colleges -- I suspect that Walgreens is heavily frequented by same ... and if you dress like a student (many of which shoplift as a lark or [post]adolescent confusion/rebellion -- the stink eyes will watch ... it's like racial profiling but not racial

University Center isn't really that nearby and the Walgreen's at Adams is closer, as is the CVS directly across the street (from University Center). There are other groups of students and teens out and about though.

spinynorman99 wrote:

SGFoxe wrote:There is a dormitory nearby for students who attend the various loop colleges -- I suspect that Walgreens is heavily frequented by same ... and if you dress like a student (many of which shoplift as a lark or [post]adolescent confusion/rebellion -- the stink eyes will watch ... it's like racial profiling but not racial

University Center isn't really that nearby and the Walgreen's at Adams is closer, as is the CVS directly across the street (from University Center). There are other groups of students and teens out and about though.

There is a large dorm for the School of the Art Institute directly across the street (above the old Borders) and another one 2 blocks South on State.

When this first opened, I heard there would be food and conjured up an unfortunate image. I'd hoped for an old-fashioned relic of the 20th century, a place with hot food, cherry coke's made with cherry syrup ladled into them. The same cherry syrup that would house the cherries that rest on top of the banana splits served there for dessert after having a grilled cheese and a cup of coffee.

20+ years ago, when I first started working in the Loop there was such a place, but I can't recall if it is was a Woolworth, a Walgreen, or some place else.

Well once I walked in and noted that the Coke Machine lacked caffeine-free Coke Zero and that drugstore counter/diner would remain a figment of my imagination I was done with it.

Haven't walked back in since opening day.

Wow! I've never felt so sad before about 20th Century relics.

I just wish I could be there to experience this Foucaultian gaol of Walgreen's expansion. Perhaps they require an undead Genet to repurpose their security? Perhaps a Terry Southern, zombie-Burroughs insurrectionary force?

I've visited twice but only briefly. As a former corporate Walgreens employee, I like that they are trying new things and wish them well. While it might not be a culinary destination, I like that they stock some items that are not easily/readily available in the vicinity. I also like that they worked with a local bakery, Lovely, to stock their freshly baked items when they could've just went the route of getting frozen Sysco products that would be reheated on site.

mrbarolo wrote:I'd love to see a moderate sized drugstore with a decent, old-style lunch counter and about 20 stools.

pairs4life wrote:I'd hoped for an old-fashioned relic of the 20th century, a place with hot food, cherry coke's made with cherry syrup ladled into them. The same cherry syrup that would house the cherries that rest on top of the banana splits served there for dessert after having a grilled cheese and a cup of coffee.

Something more like this?



I'm too young to have visited the Oak Room (a nod to the Walnut Room across the street?) but don't have pleasant memories of eating at other Walgreens. I particularly remember a hideous all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry. I'm happy they didn't try to recreate that dining experience.

Rene G wrote:


I'm too young to have visited the Oak Room (a nod to the Walnut Room across the street?) but don't have pleasant memories of eating at other Walgreens. I particularly remember a hideous all-you-can-eat Friday fish fry. I'm happy they didn't try to recreate that dining experience.

My very first job, back when I was in High School, was working in the mailroom of Kemper Insurance at 20 N. Wacker. My favorite part of the job was having to take the old postage meters to the Post Office to get them refilled with postage. I always took the opportunity to wander around downtown before going back to the office. One of my regular stops with my postage machines was that particular Walgreen's for a hot turkey sandwich and a chocolate malt, though I don't recall it being called the Oak Room at that time. Maybe it had been "reconcepted" by the time I visited, because I remember it being a typical for the time counter service restaurant with a few tables; not a cafeteria. Thanks for the memories.

Even that is far more grand than my little vision. I really wanted just a counter. Stools. No chrome escalators, no football field of tables. A griddle. A milkshake machine. Heavy oval plates with the blue-green, or maroon rim. I'm thinking, I guess, of the Woolworth's I grew up with in NY, or the coffee shop at Peekskill Community Hospital, where I'd get to go visit my dad sometimes during his day, for a treat.

I visited the "flagship Walgreen's", and they had no Big Flats available to purchase.