Does Publix have a pharmacy?
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I can think of 2 local and 1 major pharmacy in downtown; Person Street Pharmacy, Glenwood South Pharmacy and Market, and Publix. I’m not sure I agree that a CVS or Walgreens is going to elevate our brand. 
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How did you think of that one?
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I’m wearing my smarty pants today. 
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Harris Teeter also has a pharmacy but that might be 2 miles away 
none of these really count as downtown? they kind of do, but I think it’s a good callout that there is no pharmacy within the traditional borders of Downtown Raleigh anymore
Part of that is because “traditional” DTR is teeny tiny, a vestige of when Greensboro and Durham were bigger cities.
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But consider where all the residents are. GS gets 2 pharmacies with thousands of residents. Person Street has a following from Oakwood and Mordecai.
The core needs more residents if we want more things that humans need since office is still in flux.
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Maybe not a game changer but people want basic services within easy walking distance. Even the independents are over a mile from the Wake courthouse. (There’s Hemp Farmacy, but I don’t think that counts…) Plus chain drugstores keep long hours and double as convenience stores.
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In South Beach, you can hardly swing a dead cat without hitting a Walgreens or a CVS. I don’t think that it does anything for the brand. It is convenient though, and that convenience only comes with an elevated amount of sidewalk traffic. So…my wild idea for Raleigh is go all-in on more and more downtown housing. The foot traffic will compel retailers to lease empty storefront space and bring balance to the bar/party heavy nature of downtown neighborhoods.
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Okay obviously I’ve been misunderstood so let me clarify. I don’t care about Walgreens or CVS as national brands, and I’m definitely not shilling for Big Pharma. But the presence of major retailers is sort of a marker of downtown viability in the US (for better or worse). See Charlotte, Nashville, Richmond. Can Raleigh carve a different path? Absolutely. But the convenience factor isn’t nothing. Quick access to basic services makes living and visiting downtown easier. If I want to pickup a USB cord and some beta blockers so I can fire off more hot takes, I’m SOL.
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Raleigh is not a tourist town. NC State is just removed from DT proper such that its giant ecosystem doesn’t affect the sidewalk traffic. More and more folks are working from home or are hybrid. We have to get that sidewalk traffic elevated and housing is the best path forward. That’s why I say my big idea is push for a ton more housing.
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Maybe my wildest idea yet: develop the old N&O site with tons of retail, open space, and residential. Modeled after this project in Boston. Could even call it Nexus!
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I think this mix of resi/retail is sorely needed in this part of town. I love the way you have put some retail facing Nash Square. When Nexus was first announced, I told my wife it would be a dream if we could purchase a condo overlooking Nash Square when we retire. I’m not sure if we could ever afford that dream, but dreams aren’t about being able to afford them, right?
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Too funny, I told my wife the same thing. Then she asked if I was high.
I really like idea of retail in this area, but I think I’d be more ambitious with the low-rise buildings being at least 3 floors each.
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here’s a not so wild idea for raleigh - MORE NEON!
there are already several businesses in the city center and beyond with eye popping neon signs (not including the fake neon selfie stations every new bar seems to have) and there’s really nothing like it. but they’re all spread out
dtr is looking for a visual identity, and with some commitment, this could be it! imagine walking down glenwood south or the warehouse district and feeling that glow from every storefront. raleigh could be the neon city.
furthermore, we have several neon studios in our city to support a movement. why not jump in headfirst?
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If there isn’t already, maybe there needs to be an addendum to the signage ordinance that reviews/approves signage that either restores legacy/historic signage or ones that artistically contribute to the streetscape?
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