Walgreens opens in Bethesda

The first Walgreens in Bethesda opened yesterday at the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda. Interestingly, the timing was coordinated with the closure of the Walgreens-owned Rite Aid at the Westwood Shopping Center Friday evening. Rite Aid pharmacy customers are apparently assumed to now take their prescriptions to this Walgreens, where the pharmacy counter is the main focus of the small space.

Last Thursday I noticed the shelves had been stocked. An Apple Store-style security barrier was also installed inside the front entrance. It not only prevents smash and grab burglars from gaining access to the store, but also blurs out all detail on product packaging that can be seen through the front windows.

Now that the store is opened, we can finally see what products will be stocked in the tiny store, which is a new neighborhood store format Walgreens is rolling out nationwide this year. Surprisingly, they do carry some food, raising hopes that this store might stock new Walgreens-exclusive Pringles flavors in the future.

Besides snacks, there is a decent inventory of over the counter medications, toiletries, medical supplies, etc. You're likely to find whatever basic drug store items you need here, without having to play Frogger to cross the street to CVS. However, the store shares the rural town hours of the other businesses in the Bradley Shopping Center, where things wind down by 8:00 PM most nights, so don't cut up your CVS bonus card just yet.

Bethesda Walgreens may be the smallest drug store ever (Photos)

The window coverings have been removed at the future Walgreens store at the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda. It is certainly not going to be a full-size Walgreens, to state the obvious. But it's pretty shocking just how tiny the store is, when arch-rival CVS right across the street has many times the floor space. There's certainly plenty of demand for a full-size Walgreens in Bethesda, but this looks more like the chain's new pharmacy-focused "small store" concept. Bring back drug stores with lunch counters and soda fountains, I say!

Walgreens opening Bethesda store

Huge retail news from the Bradley Shopping Center in downtown Bethesda this morning. Walgreens will open a store at the center, the first Walgreens location in Bethesda history. The permanent sign was installed - and lit - Sunday. This is great news, as the chain often offers merchandise exclusive to its stores, and has a great Halloween section this time of year. The addition means even more one-stop shopping for Bethesdans, at what is already one of the top one-stop shopping centers in Montgomery County.

Walgreens should have had a Bethesda location by now with its acquisition of the Rite Aid on Westbard Avenue, but appears to have held off on its promised transformation. That Rite Aid is likely to be demolished as early as next year, and will not return to the new Westbard development there, as the new Westwood Giant store will include an in-store pharmacy.

Westbard Rite Aid now a Walgreens...sort of (Photos)

The Rite Aid store in the Westwood Shopping Center at 5350 Westbard Avenue has been acquired by Walgreens, as a part of the two chains' merger. But the store is not immediately being rebranded as Walgreens. Right now, only the pharmacy is branded as Walgreens.

Walgreens says many of the Rite Aid stores it has officially acquired will eventually become full-blown Walgreens stores, with Walgreens product inventory rather than what Rite Aid currently sells. Some stores will close altogether. The fate of the Westbard location is unclear, as the building itself will be among the first to be torn down in the redevelopment of the shopping center. That redevelopment plan will first have to be approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board.

According to Walgreens, you can no longer use your Balance Rewards points at Rite Aid stores they control. However, you can still earn wellness+/Plenti points, and those will be carried over into the Walgreens reward system eventually. At the same time, you cannot use Walgreens points and coupons until the store is officially converted into a Walgreens in the future.

Rite Aid sale prices and coupons will still be honored at the store. The pharmacy now is part of the Walgreens prescription insurance network, and "accepts most insurance plans." You will immediately be able to enroll in Walgreens' JustRx savings program; membership is free. Cards are supposed to be available from the pharmacist, or at JustRx.com. Longtime residents will agree this store will always be Drug Fair

PRINGLES SWEET CHILI TANGO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Walgreens is arguably the top drugstore chain in America right now, particularly as it offers items more often associated with retailers like Walmart, and since CVS seems to have streamlined its variety of snack food options in recent months. Now Walgreens has even has its own flavor of Pringles, the exclusive Sweet Chili Tango limited-edition canister.

How does it taste? Watch my review to find out on this edition of the Christmas Countdown, which continues through January 6.