Contributor Post: Rite Aid #4466, Garden City, Michigan

 

The following is (mostly) a SMR:MCRH Contributor Post.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Garden_City%2C_MI_location.png/320px-Garden_City%2C_MI_location.png
This post will look at retail in Garden City, Wayne County, MI.

Rite Aid #4466
29447 Ford Road, Garden City, MI
Driving distance and time from downtown Detroit: 17.0 miles, approx. 25 minutes
 
Our second consecutive Rite Aid post keeps us in the past, and indeed so inside and out. Located in downtown Garden City, just a short walk from the former site of the world's first official Kmart (recently razed for an LA Fitness) and right behind Michigan's first dining-room McDonald's (seen undergoing a complete rebuild in the foreground in the above photo, the only one in this post that I took), sits this Rite Aid, which still looks pretty much like it did when it opened here on September 11, 2000, replacing an ex-Perry Drugs (in a former National Supermarket building) less than a half-mile away on Middlebelt Road.

To get the grist of how unique this Rite Aid's exterior is from others of that era, we turn to Former Retail Employee/Y4123 for close-ups.

So as to not stick out like a sore thumb in the surroundings of downtown Garden City, instead of the traditional late-90s Rite Aid exterior design, we're looking at a much more elegant appearance, with a brick exterior that wouldn't look out of place on an upscale street.

Heading inside, we make our way into the FoodMart department. Interestingly, beverages are given their own aisle space here in addition to the typical refrigerated cases, underneath the awning towards the far right.

Everything on this endcap sign is 100% outdated, from the logo to the slogan. This sign may probably have been here since the store's opening!

We arrive at what is, likely by now, a common sight in Rite Aid stores.

The main actionway, as seen towards the front entrance from FoodMart.

One of the refrigerated ice cream cases.

The store map, to give you an idea on how this store is laid out when compared to other Rite Aid locations of the era.


The pharmacy counter, with the in-store GNC department on the left. You will also notice that this store lacks the usual diamond windows.

 Here's a close-up of the in-store GNC department.

The 1 Hour Photo department, as seen from the other end of the greeting card aisle. Notice that the Fujifilm machine at the 1 Hour Photo department is identical to the one at the Taylor location.

Before we leave, here's a close-up of the latest style of Rite Aid-branded reusable bags as sold at checkout.

Placed on the pole that stands right in front of you as you leave the store is this sign, which has become quite a true rarity at Rite Aid stores in general as they have been removed during remodels.

Come enjoy the holiday season with Y4123 and I! Until next time...

Location: 29447 Ford Rd, Garden City, MI 48135, USA

Comments

  1. Retail ForeverFebruary 22, 2021 at 8:15 PM

    It surprises me they used the red logo in the 2000s. I thought it was gone by 1998

    ReplyDelete

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