Duane Reade Expands Availability of Fashionable Alvin Valley Eco-Tote in Celebration of Earth Month

    NEW YORK, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Duane Reade, the leading drug store
 chain in metropolitan New York, today announced that in celebration of
 Earth Month it will expand the availability of the "Use It, Don't Abuse It"
 eco-tote designed exclusively for Duane Reade by renowned fashion designer
 Alvin Valley.
 
     The Alvin Valley eco-totes were initially offered in three store
 locations in February 2008 in conjunction with New York's Fashion Week. As
 part of the Company's efforts to make preserving the environment more
 affordable and convenient for all New Yorkers, the fashionable $14.99 "Use
 It, Don't Abuse It" eco-tote will now be available in 41 Duane Reade stores
 throughout metropolitan New York.
 
     Duane Reade will also offer a 99 cent eco-tote, available at all store
 locations.
 
     To encourage shoppers to use these eco-friendly bags, the Company will
 award 5 bonus-points to customers who use a Duane Reade eco-tote when
 making purchases at Duane Reade on Earth Day, April 22, 2008 until May 31,
 2008.
 
     "As New York's leading drug store, we are proud to offer New Yorkers
 these convenient and accessible eco-totes, enabling our community to do
 their part to help keep the city and the environment safe and healthy,"
 said Jeffery Thompson, Vice President of Marketing for Duane Reade. "Duane
 Reade is looking forward to these totes canvassing Manhattan as they
 symbolize an effort to preserve and protect the environment."
 
     A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Alvin Valley eco-tote
 will be donated to support The Stevenson Green Roof Project, a
 public-private partnership that brings new opportunities for learning and
 stewardship to the Bronx community.
 
     About Duane Reade
 
     Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in the
 metropolitan New York City area, offering a wide variety of prescription
 and over-the-counter drugs, health and beauty care items, cosmetics,
 greeting cards, photo supplies and photofinishing. As of September 29,
 2007, the Company operated 241 stores.
 
     About Alvin Valley
 
     Best known for the fantastic fit of his long-legged, low-slung pants,
 Alvin Valley has quickly become a great force in the New York fashion
 community. Combining his experience in the industry with Duane Reade's
 footprint in the Metropolitan area, he has found a creative and
 environmentally beneficial way to give back to the community.
 
     About The Stevenson Green Roof Project
 
     The Stevenson Green Roof Project is a public-private partnership to
 bring new opportunities for learning and stewardship to the Bronx. The
 project will transform the barren concrete roof of a building housing seven
 schools into a living laboratory for hands on learning. This exciting
 venture is being spearheaded by an exceptional team of professionals -
 educators and educational advocates, architectural and landscaping
 designers, engineers and scientists, as well as community-based
 organizations - who are partnering to design, construct and program an
 ecological roof on top of a school that can be used as an outdoor
 classroom. To date, over $1,000,000 has been committed in pro bono goods
 and services and maintenance for the life of the green roof. The partners,
 which include The Adlai Stevenson Campus, Raphael Vinoly Architects PC,
 Gilbane Building Company, The Salvadori Center and GAIA Institute are
 committed to securing all remaining components, including scientific
 equipment, plants and fencing.
 
 

     Contacts:  Duane Reade Holdings, Inc.
                FD
                Diane Zappas/Melissa Kahaly
                (212) 850-5600
 
 

SOURCE Duane Reade