A passerby took this amazing photo of the interior of the SoHo (NYC) Apple retail store in the midst of its complete reconstruction and expansion. This view from the front of the building on Prince Street shows the original five front steps in the foreground (covered with metal), support scaffolding and tons of new structural steel. The final store will be larger by incorporating about 5,000 square-feet that was vacated last year by the U.S. Postal Service at the rear of this space. Otherwise, this view seems to indicate that the store will re-open with a nearly identical interior configuration and design, including the glass staircase and skylight. It’s possible the store could open by the end of 2012. Click on the photo for a larger view. (photo by Michael)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I wonder if they will be reinstalling the theatre on the upper level? There are not too many of those left…
If you look at the rear of the space, you can see a horizontal steel beam that seems to be where the top of any staircase would be anchored. The position of that beam is not far from the rear wall, seeming to indicate that there’s not enough room upstairs/rear. Perhaps it will be located on the ground floor?
I wonder how many materials will be reused. Did the SoHo store have a stone flooring previously? How much aluminum skinning did it use? Any glass bridge on the second floor? Any other unique features that may or may not be preserved?
I’m going to be really sad to see the theatre go, if indeed that’s the case. That was a great way to be able to informally walk in and out of some great presentations. I think that’s a bad move for Apple – don’t know why they don’t like the theatre concept. I know they like the one-on-one training, but they serve different purposes.
It’s also really strange to me that they stripped the store to its core and are rebuilding it from scratch. All they really had to do was take down the back wall and expand into the new area.
Theater is going to stay on the second level, it got a bit smaller. Lower level has been expanded at the back wall. Genius Bar is the largest in US.