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Walgreens on the West Loop

November 29th, 2009

I’ve written on the positive effects that expanding business and entrepreneurism can have on a community. On such example is that of the new Walgreens on the west loop. For years and years the lot on the corner of sixty four and the loop had been wasted on the disreputable “Rose City Motel.” This had been a source of embarrassment for many Tyler residents, (myself included), who found it necessary to pass the establishment on the way to the airport to pick up out of town guests. Well at long last the shame has left, the motel has been bulldozed, and the valuable real estate reoccupied by more legitimate businesses, one of which is Walgreens Pharmacy.

Of all the new businesses on the west loop in Tyler, Walgreens is one of the most welcome and maybe the most helpful as well. The staff is there to offer whatever advice and help that they can when it comes to normal everyday ailments. They offer a full range of over the counter products for those like me, who prefer treating their own symptoms rather than constantly shelling out for a doctor’s prescription. For those situations when the doc’s help is absolutely necessary however, the store offers both walk in or drive through pick up.

But the store is much more than just a pharmacy. They offer a wide variety of health and beauty products as well as groceries and other odds and ends. While Walgreens is a pharmacy first and foremost, it is also a sort of mini department store. Personally, I stop off frequently for items like milk, which runs just under two dollars a gallon. I won’t say that their entire inventory is as inexpensive, some things seem kind of high to me, the diapers and related products for example. It’s best to know what you usually pay for those items, or do a little comparison shopping. By the way, the store is going to be offering Christmas pictures on December fifth, from eleven in the morning until three in the afternoon. They assure me that the prices will quite cheap.

Hopefully, Walgreens will not be the only new business in west Tyler. The more run down motels and third rate tattoo supply shops we can drive out and replace with real reputable businesses and jobs, the better. As someone who lives in west Tyler, I’m glad to support stores like Walgreens. Come to think of it I’m out of milk, guess I should swing by the pharmacy.

Serving your family at every stage of life

October 31st, 2009

Well here we were the day before Halloween and I had yet to decide on a topic on which to write that coincides with the season, but along came Walmart. Now I realize the retail giant gets a lot of undeserved criticism, but in this regard I find the critics to be constructive. The store announced that they will now be selling caskets and urns on its website. I believe in capitalism, the open market, and making a buck. I also believe in saving a buck as a consumer, but this is an example of a product whose price I am fairly indifferent about.

I confess that I’m not sure why this story bothers me so much. I just find it strangely depressing that the last purchase of my life would be made at the same place I buy diapers, food and everything in between. I guess it’s kind of a circle of life thing. I’m starting to feel like just another resource for the department store to tap. If a product called Soylent Green appears on the shelves, here’s a hint, don’t eat it! It tastes just like people. I think death and mourning is probably not a good product for whole sale retailers. Buying urns in bulk, or dropping off and picking up your dead at the drive through window could prove just a little dehumanizing. I can hear it already, “Will the Hague family please report to isle five for your father’s wake.”

In all seriousness, I understand that fraud and scams in the funeral services are very real mine fields for grieving families to navigate. Largely for this reason, my own father sees it as perfectly acceptable for the department store to offer the on-line products. By the way, the caskets actually have product names like; “the executive,” (almost sounds like something one might prefer to test drive prior to purchasing), and “Mom and Dad remembered.” There’s nothing like a little manufactured sympathy. It comes down to this, I just don’t want to be considering end of life options while in the middle of it. And Dad, I don’t care what you say; I’m not burying you in a Walmart casket!

Instead of turning to a department store in preparation for the life to come, I suggest simply planning ahead. Find a funeral home and director you know to be honest, and make your wishes known to your family not your local Walmart. As I finish this piece I am reminded that I need to head to Walmart for more Halloween candy. Hey! Maybe I should pick up an urn to put it in!

To see the on line listings follow the links below.

Walmart Caskets

Walmart Caskets link 2