Buying Groceries Downtown - Quick Review of CVS « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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Buying Groceries Downtown - Quick Review of CVS

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Started 1 year ago by Walker
Latest reply from lifeliberty

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Yep, CVS.

Located at 105 South High Street, near the corner of State & High, the CVS is one of the most centralized locations Downtown for convenience-style grocery items.

The store is clean, and actually quite large, going pretty far back into the building. Grocery offerings are similar to what you'd find in any other CVS store in Columbus: milk, bread, dry & boxed goods, canned goods, frozen food, snacks, beer & wine, baking goods, condiments and more. Their prices vary between convenience-store pricing and standard grocery-store pricing, especially with items that are on sale. As with other Downtown convenience stores, the only big things lacking are meat/butcher and fresh produce.

It almost looks like a real grocery store in here, no?

Additionally, CVS excels over the other Downtown convenience stores in their offerings with toiletries, medicines, vitamins, cosmetics and other similar pharmacy staples. They also have a variety of other household necessities like umbrellas, batteries, flashlights, etc.

Their store hours are:

Mon-Fri - 7am to 8pm
Saturday - 10am to 8pm
Sunday - 10am to 6pm

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeliberty
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I'm here almost every day! Plus they have a pharmacy for all you Rx needs. they have some really good sales and great clearances after the holidays. they are the cheapest place for most items downtown. Always lowest prices on cigarettes and they have lots of 10 for $10 deals on stuff like Gaterade and whatever. And I can buy stuff like snacks at grocery store prices instead of vending machine prices(here in the building). And don't forget those last minute Birthday cards for the boss!

I use it a lot because I can stop there during lunch or on the way home if I need something and that way I don't have to stop somewhere else before I get home. (catfood, cigs, soda)

And CVS sells stamps at the front counter for face value. I haven't seen the mobile USPS truck for a while and the bank ATM charges you more than face value(if you haven't noticed, add it up).

For stores in Dtwn area it's either CVS or Huntington basement.

Posted 1 year ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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lifeliberty wrote >>
For stores in Dtwn area it's either CVS or Huntington basement.

What's Huntington basement?

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeliberty
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there is a market in the basement of the Huntington Building. In the basement of the Huntington there is a florist, barbershop, shoe shine, doctors office, and a convienience store.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I forgot to mention in the initial post...

While this CVS is great for office workers, and LL has stated, I imagine it's going to be an even bigger asset for the approximately 300 new residents who will be moving into the Annex at River South soon:

http://www.lifestylecommunities.com/the-annex-at-river-south/overview

Located right around the corner, just a block away.

Posted 1 year ago #
gramarye
In Exile
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I think the downtown CVS is underappreciated because it's (a) a chain and (b) not a full-fledged grocery store. It's still useful to have around. I've been in there a number of times and generally thought the prices were pretty reasonable for what that space has to cost.

Posted 1 year ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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I love when they run buy one get one deals on the makeup I like!

Also, the guys who run Huntington basement are really nice too.

Posted 1 year ago #
BCNation
Franklin Park
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I spent a lot of $$$$ between Wal-Mart and CVS. I've never been to the Huntington basement, but I don't work in that building....
I occasionally have grabbed lunch @ C-Town Market & Deli, though.

Posted 1 year ago #
gramarye
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Hah! This thread is the first I've ever heard about the shops in the Huntington basement. They should publicize more; I've been in that building probably ten times and never found them.

ETA: I just realized something ... maybe I haven't. Are we talking about the Huntington Building or the Huntington Center? I've been in the tower many times. The actual Huntington Building on the corner of Broad & High, not so much. Only twice.

Posted 1 year ago #
patient_zero
Falafel District
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And don't forget photo needs: flash cards, batteries, digital imaging, film and film developing (when you are going old school), usb cables.

When Cord vacated their downtown location, and Rocket Photo closed in the mall, it left a huge void for photographers (not to mention the pro labs that closed as well).

Full service camera stores are a dying breed nationally, sad to say.

Posted 1 year ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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I've been there for my camera needs.

Posted 1 year ago #
gramarye
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patient_zero wrote >>

Full service camera stores are a dying breed nationally, sad to say.

I have to imagine the Internet has a lot to do with that. The ability to sell over a wider area is all the more important for goods that don't have a large base of customers concentrated in one area. Everyone needs toilet paper; not everyone needs the more high-end, specialized camera equipment.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I forgot to add that they also have some DVDs for sale by the register. Mostly movies I wouldn't watch (Grumpy Old Men Part 4) but worth noting for anyone desperate for a flick.

Speaking of which... I wonder if a RedBox downtown would do well. They seem to be really popular.

Posted 1 year ago #
pedex

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gramarye wrote >>

patient_zero wrote >>
Full service camera stores are a dying breed nationally, sad to say.

I have to imagine the Internet has a lot to do with that. The ability to sell over a wider area is all the more important for goods that don't have a large base of customers concentrated in one area. Everyone needs toilet paper; not everyone needs the more high-end, specialized camera equipment.

isn't the net its digital that did em in

capital photo on gay street closed for that reason, lack of demand cause digital removed the need to have film developed

Posted 1 year ago #
pedex

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gramarye wrote >>
Hah! This thread is the first I've ever heard about the shops in the Huntington basement. They should publicize more; I've been in that building probably ten times and never found them.
ETA: I just realized something ... maybe I haven't. Are we talking about the Huntington Building or the Huntington Center? I've been in the tower many times. The actual Huntington Building on the corner of Broad & High, not so much. Only twice.

they are talking about 41 south high(huntington center) not 17 south high st, not that it means all that much cause you can go directly from one to the other via the basement tunnels

the basement of 41 south high has a florist, shoe shine guy, doctor's office, convenience shop, post office kiosk and tunnel to take you to 77 south high or 17 south high

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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pedex wrote >>

gramarye wrote >>
Hah! This thread is the first I've ever heard about the shops in the Huntington basement. They should publicize more; I've been in that building probably ten times and never found them.
ETA: I just realized something ... maybe I haven't. Are we talking about the Huntington Building or the Huntington Center? I've been in the tower many times. The actual Huntington Building on the corner of Broad & High, not so much. Only twice.

they are talking about 41 south high(huntington center) not 17 south high st, not that it means all that much cause you can go directly from one to the other via the basement tunnels
the basement of 41 south high has a florist, shoe shine guy, doctor's office, convenience shop, post office kiosk and tunnel to take you to 77 south high or 17 south high

As well as the tunnels back into the Statehouse Garage to access the Riffe and Rhodes tunnels and the Statehouse basement (CSRAB offices, museum and gift shop) and building.

Posted 1 year ago #
dashinhilliard
Hilliard, Ohio
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Not to derail the thread, but the Cafe Zydeco in the Riffe Tower basement is a great weekday breakfast or lunch spot. They have daily specials and on Wednesday they have a soul food special featuring "yard bird" (fried chicken) or pork chops with your choice of mac and cheese, greens, or yams. The mac and cheese is worth going there alone. =)

More info at http://oba.ohio.gov/newver/riffe_cafeteria.htm

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeliberty
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I won't eat at Cafe Zydeco anymore, that place is gross and service is horrible. FYI, just look up some of their health code violations. There's too many better cheaper options, especially for breakfast nearby, see Danny's Deli, Einstein's Bagels, or Potbelly. if you really want a cafeteria setting, go to the Rhodes tower basement. http://www.undergroundcafe.biz/index.htm

and all the shops in the basement of the Huntington i mentioned are under Carribou Coffee. take the escalators down.

Posted 1 year ago #
manticore33
Delaware, OH
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It is amazing what the drug-stores carry anymore. And, at least in my area, if you get a CVS a Wal-Greens is bound to be built within 1/4 mi.

Honestly, as an outsider or out-of-towner, kudos for posting these threads showing that living downtown is not impossible and shows real opportunity for business growth. Turning to stores like CVS or even the CCAD market is almost out of my comprehension because I am used to everything being there (with options).

I really do take advantage of living in my small town of 35,000 that has four grocery stores (one a Meijer, other a small Ohio store), ethnic latino market, and soon-to-open Aldi's within the city limits. However, it really makes a statement about how businesses have been trending to over-serve certain markets and ignoring a city's core.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Well, keep in mind that I'm posting these as options for people who are looking for groceries within the strict limits of the Downtown boundaries. Anyone willing to walk or drive a short distance outside of Downtown can find multiple Kroger and Giant Eagle locations within two miles of Downtown...

http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/StoreDetails.aspx?recordId=01600412

http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/StoreDetails.aspx?recordId=01600569

http://www.gianteagle.com/storelocator/storedetails.aspx?storeid=691

http://www.gianteagle.com/storelocator/storedetails.aspx?storeid=686

Posted 1 year ago #