C O Bigelow Pharmacy

09/05/08

Find what you need here

by michaelcwong at Citysearch

I always find the right thing here; selection is not equaled anywhere else. As for service, yesterday I wandered one time around the store myself and appeared lost, so Colleen offered her help. She patiently helped me find 3 different items; she would consult her colleagues where needed, gave some recommendations based on her experience, interpreted the labels for me and ultimately gave me a couple choices from which I could pick my purchase. Also, I was carrying multiple bags that day after a bunch of shopping and Colleen noticed it was a little awkward for me to carry, so she got 2 extra large Bigelow bags, helped me pack the bags with even weight and sent me on my way. This was effort unrelated to a sale (after I had paid and left the counter), and I give extra points for that. You might not get the superficial retail service from bubbling sales people you might get in some shops, but I felt Colleen listened to what I said and helped me find what I needed.

• Pros: Selection
• Cons: Selection is bad for indecisive people like me

08/29/08

Products great, staff not so much

by chivali at Citysearch

I stopped in yesterday and was quickly reminded why I stopped shopping here. The products are great, hard to find and high end that is not something that has ever changed. Unfortunately the staff is rude. They have a couldn't be bothered attitude and no concept of customer service. I was looking for a bronzer. I brought what remained of it with me to try to match up the color as close as possible. When I showed it to her I was told they didn't have that brand or anything close and she wasn't going to show me anything that didn't match it. I'm in sales and I've done some retail. If you don't have exactly what the customer is looking for it is worth it for you to try to find a close match. I was clearly interested in finding something. The store was not crowded so it wasn't like I as taking up her time but she made me feel as if I was wasting her time. It might be a little frustrating going into a department store to get cosmetics but atleast the sales people are interested in making a sale and taking care of you with respect and service.

• Pros: Great products
• Cons: Staff and service

A mixture of Old-World luxury and modern efficiency.

by Sandra Ramani at Citysearch

The Scene
A West Village mainstay for more than 150 years, the family-run Bigelow is home to countless lines of beauty products and a pharmacy. Today's clientele includes everyone from Greenwich Village grandmas to savvy celebs, but this is also where Mark Twain bought his toothpaste and John Belushi slumped at the (now-gone) soda fountain, and there's still a definite Old-World feel here--from the homeopathic remedies and men's shaving tools to the prescriptions area where the staff greets many customers by name.

The Goods
Some of beauty's trendiest names and most unusual items are here: Check out chic lines like Terax, Mason Pearson and English import King of Shaves. Victorian paper books of pressed powder share shelf space with Uncle Luigi's Licorice Pastilles, and glass cases display one-of-a-kind hair accessories and gold-beaded MetroCard cases.

02/02/04

fantastic atmosphere

by greekgots at Citysearch

No wonder this place has been in business for 160 years! Interesting products (such as 'new car scent' and 'funeral home' perfume) line up the shelves, and "real" new yorkers seem to shop here for the bizarre little things Bigalows offers. The atomoshere here is very unique. However, the most impressive thing about the place is the very attractive staff, particularly the men who work the back pharmacy! wink wink ladies...

• Pros: atmosphere

09/30/02

pay for the selection

by bkirgiz at Citysearch

The store has a great selection but the exuberant prices will keep me away. I can get the same brands for much ceaper elsewhere. Looks like a cheap store, but don't be fooled.

• Pros: variety, open late
• Cons: overpriced

08/03/02

chemistry

by makarana at Citysearch

a great chemistry of item selection and the environment! the atmosphere enhances the value and quality of the wide selection from all over the world.

• Pros: selection, atmosphere, staff
• Cons: crowded

05/20/02

An NYC institution

by susanchenelle_citysearch at Citysearch

Bigelow is the best pharmacy in the city. If, despite the zillion things they already have on display, you need something they don't carry, they will happily order it for you, and possibly start stocking it. The selection of high-end bath, body and beauty items is incredible, but prices on more common brands are often better than what you'll find at Duane Reade or RiteAid. And Bigelow has far more charm than either.

• Pros: Selection
• Cons: Crowded

05/20/02

My Pharmacy of Choice

by DMcAlvanah_Citysearch at Citysearch

This woody, ancient-looking Greenwich Village pharmacy is a far cry from the Duane-Reades and Rite-Aids of the world. It's tiny but efficiently run, with a wide array of beauty products, shaving accessories, and creative gifts up front. The drug counter sits in back, and the pharmacists and assistants that watch over it are always prompt and friendly.