UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                             CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
                          TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


   Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)      March 16, 2005


                                DUANE READE INC.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    DELAWARE
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                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


                  001-13843                               04-3164702
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          (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification No.)


              440 NINTH AVENUE
             NEW YORK, NEW YORK                            10001
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  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


                                 (212) 273-5700
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              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (SEE General Instruction A.2. below):

     [_]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
          (17 CFR 230.425)

     [_]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
          CFR 240.14a-12)

     [_]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
          Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     [_]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
          Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





ITEM 2.02     ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

              On March 16, 2005, Duane Reade Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release announcing its financial results for the 2004 fiscal year and fourth
quarter ended December 25, 2004. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1
to this report. This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act") or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall such
information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of the
general incorporation language of such filing, except as shall be expressly set
forth by specific reference in such filing.


ITEM 9.01     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

              (c)       Exhibits:
                        Exhibit 99.1 - Press release, dated March 16, 2005.





                                   SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Dated: March 16, 2005

                                              DUANE READE INC.


                                              By:    /s/ John K. Henry
                                                     ---------------------------
                                              Name:  John K. Henry
                                              Title: Senior Vice President and
                                                     Chief Financial Officer







                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                   DESCRIPTION
-------                  -----------

Exhibit 99.1             Press release dated March 16, 2005.