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                                                                  Exhibit 3.5(i)




                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                            DUANE READE REALTY, INC.





         FIRST: The name of the corporation is Duane Reade Realty, Inc.

         SECOND: The address of it's registered office in the State of Delaware
is 1013 Centre Road, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware, 19805.
The name of the registered agent at such address is The Prentice-Hall
Corporation System, Inc.

         THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or
promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may
be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

         FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is 1,000 having a par value of $0.01 per share. All such
shares are Common Stock.

         FIFTH: The name and mailing address of the incorporator is:

                                   Alexandra W. Schlesinger
                                       Latham & Watkins
                                       885 Third Avenue
                                   New York, New York 10022

         SIXTH The personal liability of the directors of the Corporation is
hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by paragraph (7) of subsection
(b) of Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
the same may be amended and supplemented. Any repeal or modification of this
Article Sixth shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director
of the Corporation existing immediately prior to such repeal or modification.

         SEVENTH: The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted or
required by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the Sate of Delaware,
as the same may be amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons to
whom it shall have power to indemnify under said section from and against any
and all of the expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or covered
by said section, and the indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled


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under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person. Any
repeal or modification of this Article Seventh shall not adversely affect any
right or protection existing hereunder immediately prior to such repeal or
modification.

         EIGHTH From time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of
incorporation may be amended, altered or repealed, and other provisions
authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be
added or inserted in the manner and at the time prescribed by said laws, and all
rights at any time conferred upon the stockholders of the Corporation by this
certificate of incorporation are granted subject to the provisions of this
Article Eighth.

         NINTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers,
privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or other statutes or laws of the state
of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter,
amend or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation, without any action on the part
of the Stockholders, but the Stockholders may make additional By-Laws and may
alter, amend or repeal any By-Law whether adopted by them or otherwise. The
Corporation may in its By-Laws confer powers upon its Board of Directors in
addition to the foregoing and in addition to the powers and authorities
expressly conferred upon the Board of Directors by applicable law.


                                       2

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         I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the sole incorporator hereinbefore named, for
the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, do make this certificate, herein declaring and certifying
that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and
accordingly have hereunto set my hand this __ day of August, 1999.






                                            ---------------------------
                                            Incorporator
                                            Alexandra W. Schlesinger