I finally had a chance to check out the new CVS in my neighborhood. Compared to the older CVS and Walgreen’s stores that I’m used to, it’s a relevation: clean, modern, and easy to navigate, with a broad assortment of products beyond the usual drug store fare. I also noticed something unusual about the store design: the floors are carpeted, using a series of square carpet tiles.

In fact, the carpet squares look just like the modular carpet I’ve seen at stores like CB2. The idea is that you can install it easily (since there’s no big roll to transport), mix and match different styles, and replace damaged areas by simply swapping out a single square. Each panel is about 18 inches across, making those replacements a cinch.

What a great approach: CVS gets the aesthetic benefits of carpet instead of settling for ugly linoleum, but without the risk of expensive repairs when someone spills something on there or an area wears out. Just about the only thing missing is a store display where they promote the benefits of modular carpeting and let you buy it right then and there. Of course, that sounds more like the kind of thing you’d find in the “As Seen on TV” aisle in an older drug store, which might not jive with the image they’re going for in the new locations.