Drug stores and big box stores are very similar. By building a new store in either case, does not really increase business. It just takes business away from other stores.
So is that good for the consumers with the creation of price competition?
I do not know.

I could see it from either side. Yes, business could be shifted from other stores nearby and not necessarily increase business in Richfield. However, in this case, with the CVS proximity to Hwy. 62, it could get a lot of commuter traffic. Those shoppers may normally shop closer to home in farther suburbs. When I did the piece on the municipal liquor stores, Steve Devich told me that he estimates that about 60 percent of the Cedar store's business was from commuters not residents. I guess this is technically taking business away from other stores, however I would consider stores in towns farther away to be a different market than the cluster of stores in Richfield/Edina/Bloomington that vy for the same resident business. Just a thought.

I wasn't sure at first but I think it is a good addition for Penn Ave.

Those items covered by insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid will, by law see no difference in costs to the direct consumer. Federal programs do not even allow for the use of discount coupons. Items not covered by insurance may provide some competition. I personally am happy to see any legitimate new business come to Richfield. I do wish the start up process was less onerous. How many citizens who might wish to start a small company are dissuaded by excessive regulations and unnecessary government created expenses? That might be a good question to ask your readers.

I believe that in a competition sense, it is a great idea and will allow residents to noose between more pharmacies. I'm not 100% familiar with the produce they will offer, but I'm sure it will add in variation. This is the process cities go through. It is a natural and necessary growth.

I like to stop at Bruegger's. Now I can just run across the street and get my sundries.

Competition is always good and frankly, with so many empty store fronts (see Lyndale Ave between 66th and 62) we cant be picky. We are fortunate that business like CVS and Pizza Luce find Richfield attractive

Now that Walgreens is not accepting Express Scripts any more, and UCare has no longer carrying Walgreens, CVS will be one more pharmacy in Richfield that accepts Express Scripts and UCare will carry. I do wish, however, that the independently owned pharmacy that was there did not have to go out of business for another national corporation could move in there.

I just transferred my prescriptions (ExpressScripts) from Walgreens to the Richfield Target Pharmacy, since I go there all the time anyway. But I really miss 'my' Walgreens Pharmacy that was just up the street from us and felt more personal than Target does.

I don't mind another pharmacy, but am extremely disappointed with the design. It's yet another big box bland chain store and does nothing to enhance the neighborhood. That corner had so much potential. It doesn't need an ultra-sprawled, car-oriented boring chain dominating the corner and displacing smaller independent places. And given that there are already so many other pharmacies within such close driving distance, it seems a shame that this space isn't better utilized for something that may have had the power to draw from a greater area. I'm sure it will capture the business of those who live in the immediate area or who commute right past it, but I think there are many, many other uses for that space that would have a greater benefit for Richfield and for the 66th and Penn commercial district. I have not been paying as much attention as I should, but wasn't there a small area study plan done for that area within the past few years? If memory serves me right, this CVS goes against the main hopes of that document. On the plus side, the new sidewalks ARE wider, so I guess we'll have to (for now) settle for what we can get.

Competition is good, and it sure beats having an empty strip mall.

Now, the city is wondering if they made the right decision to let CVS build here, Where have you been? According to the map in this article, there are 15 drug facilities listed. Wasn't that a clue we didn't need another drug facility? And as for another empty strip mall, all the units had been occupied for years and years. Some longer than I have lived here(14 years). And for those Express Scripts, I don't think there was such a big demand to warrant CVS. Other arrangements could have been made to accomodate those few. We have two development areas looking for tenants. If you want people from outside to come here, give them something you won't find on every street corner.

CVS isn't necessary. I'll definitely take CVS over a cash-checking place but I'd much rather see something new and unique to the city like a co-op foods place or any kind of local small business.