Anyone ever actually seen a 24-hour pharmacies logo sign before?

[Pink Jazz]

In 2003, the MUTCD added a 24-hour Pharmacies category for logo signs (along with Attractions).  However, has anyone ever actually seen one before?  I never have.  ADOT now offers that category as an option for its urban logo sign program, but as far as I know, there haven't been any 24-hour pharmacies in the Phoenix area that have signed up for a logo sign yet.

If someone has seen one or even have some pics of one, I would like to see it.  I have seen pics of Virginia's experimental "Full Service Food" signs, which paved the way for the FHWA to allow up to two signs of the same category (granted interim approval around 2003-2004, and finally added to the 2009 MUTCD).

[Beeper1]

There are some on RI-146 NB and SB at the junction with RI-146A in North Smithfield.   

[Brandon]

Illinois used to have them, but most of them, if not all of them, have been removed.  The vast majority were for Walgreens.

[CtrlAltDel]

What does the sign look like?

[Pink Jazz]

What does the sign look like?

Just like any other logo sign, with the words "24 Hour Pharmacies" as its category.

[jeffandnicole]

It's possible Walgreens 'tested' the idea in Illinois for a while.  Since they usually have to pay to have their sign on the blue service signs on an annual basis, maybe they decided after a year or two the cost wasn't worth it, compared to the business it was bringing in. 

[roadman65]

It is basically Walgreens anyway that is open 24/7, so seeing that is no surprise.

[Pete from Boston]

CVS has 24-hour stores as well.  I don't know a 24-hour Rite-Aid.

I don't know any 24-hour independents, and pretty much all the other chains are now gone. 

[roadman65]

Is CVS as nationally available as Walgreens?

Still, like you mention, it comes down to one or two so basically having the logo for this is an almost monopoly on certain businesses.

[jeffandnicole]

More or less, it's just Walgreens, CVS & Rite Aid.  And while there's not a whole lot of competition, the purpose of the blue signs is that you know you can access a pharmacy off that exit, regardless of the brand.  Even if there was just one company across the nation, it'll still be convenient to know if that pharmacy was near by the exit.

While I guess the idea was good in theory, if someone is really in need of a 24 hour pharmacist they would probably need to go to one in the network of pharmacies that they use, so a Walgreens would be useless if someone normally uses CVS.  And other drug store items can be found in most supermarkets, Walmarts, etc.  If you just need some Advil, any convenience store or even vending machines at rest areas will have them.

[bzakharin]

More or less, it's just Walgreens, CVS & Rite Aid.  And while there's not a whole lot of competition, the purpose of the blue signs is that you know you can access a pharmacy off that exit, regardless of the brand.  Even if there was just one company across the nation, it'll still be convenient to know if that pharmacy was near by the exit.

While I guess the idea was good in theory, if someone is really in need of a 24 hour pharmacist they would probably need to go to one in the network of pharmacies that they use, so a Walgreens would be useless if someone normally uses CVS.  And other drug store items can be found in most supermarkets, Walmarts, etc.  If you just need some Advil, any convenience store or even vending machines at rest areas will have them.

They are good for emergencies when the doctor prescribed something that has to be taken right now. Also, if you realize late at night that you're out of something, any pharmacy would give you at least a few pills so you can get the rest the next day

[US71]

Is CVS as nationally available as Walgreens?

It's becoming that way. Balla Vista and Van Buren, AR how have them. Fayetteville is getting on as soon as they demolish the old Holiday Inn.

[Brandon]

CVS has 24-hour stores as well.  I don't know a 24-hour Rite-Aid.

I don't know any 24-hour independents, and pretty much all the other chains are now gone. 

Osco, but only attached to a Jewel.

[Pete from Boston]

CVS has 24-hour stores as well.  I don't know a 24-hour Rite-Aid.

I don't know any 24-hour independents, and pretty much all the other chains are now gone. 

Osco, but only attached to a Jewel.

All the standalone Osco pharmacies here were purchased by Brooks in 2000 or so. Brooks was, in turn, purchased by Rite Aid. The pharmacies in Shaws/Star market stores are now branded Osco, due to the corporate connection through Albertson's, but there is no meaningful Osco presence here anymore.

[Brandon]

CVS has 24-hour stores as well.  I don't know a 24-hour Rite-Aid.

I don't know any 24-hour independents, and pretty much all the other chains are now gone. 

Osco, but only attached to a Jewel.

All the standalone Osco pharmacies here were purchased by Brooks in 2000 or so. Brooks was, in turn, purchased by Rite Aid. The pharmacies in Shaws/Star market stores are now branded Osco, due to the corporate connection through Albertson's, but there is no meaningful Osco presence here anymore.

The standalone Osco Drugs were sold to many companies.  Around Chicago, they were sold to CVS in the late 2000s (like 2008 or so), but there is a very meaningful presence due to the number of Jewel-Osco stores in the area (over 200 of them).

[jeffandnicole]

More or less, it's just Walgreens, CVS & Rite Aid.  And while there's not a whole lot of competition, the purpose of the blue signs is that you know you can access a pharmacy off that exit, regardless of the brand.  Even if there was just one company across the nation, it'll still be convenient to know if that pharmacy was near by the exit.

While I guess the idea was good in theory, if someone is really in need of a 24 hour pharmacist they would probably need to go to one in the network of pharmacies that they use, so a Walgreens would be useless if someone normally uses CVS.  And other drug store items can be found in most supermarkets, Walmarts, etc.  If you just need some Advil, any convenience store or even vending machines at rest areas will have them.

They are good for emergencies when the doctor prescribed something that has to be taken right now.

Unless the doctor you used was on the shoulder of the highway, you would probably already be off the highway at a hospital, and they would probably refer you to a nearby one that doesn't involve a ride on the highway.  If the doctor was on the shoulder of the highway, chances are he can sell you something on the spot...in the cloak of darkness! 

Also, if you realize late at night that you're out of something, any pharmacy would give you at least a few pills so you can get the rest the next day

I think you still need some form of verification that you are taking those pills.  I guess you could get to a Walgreens and they would call CVS and verify that.  But chances are if you're driving in the middle of nowhere, you're probably not going to find a 24 hour pharmacy.  Yes, they are open during the day, but remember the signage that we are referring to - 24 Hour Pharmacy signage.  And as Walgreens probably tested, it's not a very common problem that warrants the expenditure.

[theline]

I've had good luck getting a pharmacist to advance me a few pills to tide me over, even though he he had no access to my Rx. Maybe it's my honest face. 

There are plenty of medications that one might need on a regular basis that don't require a doctor's intervention on the spot.

[admtrap]

I've had good luck getting a pharmacist to advance me a few pills to tide me over, even though he he had no access to my Rx. Maybe it's my honest face. 

There are plenty of medications that one might need on a regular basis that don't require a doctor's intervention on the spot.

It depends very strongly on what medication it is.  Pharmacists can give "emergency fills" based on a medical profile, even without a prescription.  But unless you have a longstanding relationship with them, you're not getting narcotics that way (and even then, you probably won't.  DEA crackdowns are no fun).  But for something like blood pressure medication or diabetes medicine, yeah, that you're unlikely to have problems with, since they have almost no abuse potential, and missing doses can be dangerous, rather than just uncomfortable. 

As for seeing logos, does the NLCS count?  The Nationals are apparently a team of pharmacists...

[cl94]

Is CVS as nationally available as Walgreens?

It's becoming that way. Balla Vista and Van Buren, AR how have them. Fayetteville is getting on as soon as they demolish the old Holiday Inn.

One in the northeast could say the reverse. Until pretty recently, CVS was pretty much king with Rite Aid up here as well, but they're now as big after acquiring Eckerd. Heck, the first Walgreens I saw up here was at the end of the last decade.

[Pete from Boston]

Walgreens took over all or part of Medi-Mart from Stop & Shop in the mid 1980s, and has been common in the northeast at least since then.

[TheStranger]

CVS made their big push in California about 4-5 years ago when they took over Longs Drugs and changed over the brand name out here (in Hawaii, IIRC they retained the Longs Drugs moniker due to very strong local familiarity/brand acceptance).

[jeffandnicole]

Walgreens took over all or part of Medi-Mart from Stop & Shop in the mid 1980s, and has been common in the northeast at least since then.

Well, not all of the Northeast. Here in the NJ/PA area, I never heard of them, and Shop & Stop wasn't around here either at the time. S&S made a brief appearance in the 2000's, then was sold off. Any Walgreens I'm familiar with, at least in South Jersey, are new stores. Walgreens did purchase Happy Harry's (mostly in Delaware), but due to the popularity of the HH name, Walgreens agreed to keep the stores as HH, although I think they do include a very small Walgreens logo next to the larger Happy Harry's logo.

[Pete from Boston]

Walgreens took over all or part of Medi-Mart from Stop & Shop in the mid 1980s, and has been common in the northeast at least since then.

Well, not all of the Northeast. Here in the NJ/PA area, I never heard of them, and Shop & Stop wasn't around here either at the time. S&S made a brief appearance in the 2000's, then was sold off. Any Walgreens I'm familiar with, at least in South Jersey, are new stores. Walgreens did purchase Happy Harry's (mostly in Delaware), but due to the popularity of the HH name, Walgreens agreed to keep the stores as HH, although I think they do include a very small Walgreens logo next to the larger Happy Harry's logo.

Depends on the time frame/area.  Stop & Shop was in North Jersey in the 1970s, along with its drug store subsidiary Medi-Mart.  The Stop & Shop I knew became a Kings; Medi-Mart next door lingered on for just a few years.  Stop & Shop had a somber full-page announcement in the paper, c.1981: "Stop & Shop is Leaving New Jersey," followed with formalities.  They returned later in the 1980s.

Medi-Mart hung on, albeit briefly.  I would guess they were gone by 1985 or 6, replaced by Walgreens.

[cl94]

Walgreens took over all or part of Medi-Mart from Stop & Shop in the mid 1980s, and has been common in the northeast at least since then.

Well, not all of the Northeast. Here in the NJ/PA area, I never heard of them, and Shop & Stop wasn't around here either at the time. S&S made a brief appearance in the 2000's, then was sold off. Any Walgreens I'm familiar with, at least in South Jersey, are new stores. Walgreens did purchase Happy Harry's (mostly in Delaware), but due to the popularity of the HH name, Walgreens agreed to keep the stores as HH, although I think they do include a very small Walgreens logo next to the larger Happy Harry's logo.

Depends on the time frame/area.  Stop & Shop was in North Jersey in the 1970s, along with its drug store subsidiary Medi-Mart.  The Stop & Shop I knew became a Kings; Medi-Mart next door lingered on for just a few years.  Stop & Shop had a somber full-page announcement in the paper, c.1981: "Stop & Shop is Leaving New Jersey," followed with formalities.  They returned later in the 1980s.

Medi-Mart hung on, albeit briefly.  I would guess they were gone by 1985 or 6, replaced by Walgreens.

I first saw one in Upstate New York within the past decade. Even now, Rite Aid definitely has a much larger market share and I'm pretty sure CVS does as well. I never heard of them until I moved to Ohio in 2003 and even there CVS may have had a larger portion of the market.