Mayor Richard M. Daley tours the Walgreens e-commerce department with Senior Vice President Sona Chawla in Walgreens new offices at the historic Sullivan Center. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
By Sandra M. Jones | Walgreen Co. opened its first Loop office and hired a small team of employees to focus on the drug store chain’s online presence.
The 20,000-square-foot office opened Feb. 22 in the Sullivan Center, formerly the Carson Pirie Scott building, at State and Madison Streets. The office will eventually employ 65 workers specializing in web design and information technology.
Walgreen’s new offices are on the fourth floor of the Sullivan Center.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, architect firm Gensler Inc., the State of Illinois and landlord Joseph Freed and Associates also have offices in the building.
The 109-year-old drug store chain has been beefing up its online presence in the past year, redesigning its Web site and running online promotions.
Walgreen’s original corporate headquarters were on Peterson Avenue on Chicago’s north side. The retailer moved to Deerfield in 1975, where it remains today.
Mayor Richard Daley and Walgreen executives unveiled the new office at a press conference Thursday morning at the landmark Sullivan Center.
So were any tax breaks/TIF subsidies given to Walgreens by the city?
What about the possibility of a Target Store in the Carson’s building, as was mentioned in news articles two months ago. A Target would be a real shot in the arm for State Street and the people who live and work downtown, including the 60,000 college students in the Loop.
Do editors ever look at stories before they’re posted online? It seems strange that a newspaper like the Tribune could end up with a headline that says “odl” instead of “old.” An extra 30 seconds of proofing before posting is probably worth it.
McKinley – Target is still in negotiations for space on the lower floors of the building (most likely ground & 2nd or basement levels). This building is HUGE though, there is ample space for offices above & retail on lower levels (which is the approach being taken to fill the space).
And what’s with the inappropriate use of the apostrophe on both the word “Walgreens” and “Carsons?” No wonder our kids can’t master the English language! Argh!
The apostrophe is because they are a person’s last name.
Aren’t both Caron’s and Walgreen’s right? It’s Carson Pirie Scott, not Carsons Pirie Scott. And, as the article itself says, it’s Walgreen Co., not Walgreens Co. I think, Apostrophe Freak, you’ve confused how the companies are commonly referred to with their real names…
Nope. Walgreens dropped the comma years ago. Yes, that makes it incorrect, but that’s what they did. Look at your Sunday sale insert or a Walgreens building. No apostrophe. Sad, but true.
I find it interesting that Walgreens set up shop in the old Carson building faster, than the stores that are planning or signed leases in Block 37. Plus it wasn’t mention in the media that they were looking for any space downtown. A few months ago, Target was seriously looking at spaces in the old Carson building. I am surprise that Apple and other stores that thought about open a store in Block 37, didn’t check the old Carson building.
Mean while, stores planning to open in Block 37 are still waiting or decided to look for others spots downtown.
Freed screwed up this space as badly as he has Block 57. But at least his friends in city hall gave him a lot of mony to screw it up.
Thy better sell a whole bunch of chia-pets and snuggies to pay for that rent. Honestly, what is the largest ticket item anyone would regularly buy online from a retail pharmacy? Butt paste?
I’m a shareholder of the company. The company’s name is Walgreen Co. and the store name is Walgreens.
I suspect the rent was a sweet deal in order to get them to buy into the concept. It usually is with large corporations and downtown space. And Thomas E., what’s wrong with Chia Pets???
Thomas, they sell items online that can’t be found in the retail stores due to space limitations. Things like wheelchairs, shower benches, fitness equipment.