Sister Stores Take Shape, Are Different Sizes

The size and scale of the future Third Street Promenade 2 (S. Calif.) store has become obvious with the erection of steel that will support the stone sidewalls and arched-glass roof. The store will open later this year to provide more space for visitors who have crowded the original store since it opened 1,000 feet away in July 2003. The store’s design will mirror the Upper West Side (NYC) store, and become a sister-store to Palo Alto 2 (N. Calif.) now under construction with the same design, but on a smaller scale. Photos of the TSP store show massive steel columns on both sides of the lot at the front of the store. In between is an immense pit  that occupies the rear two-thirds of the parcel, and that will house the stockrooms, Genius rooms and administrative offices. Photos of Palo Alto 2 also show the structural steel, and a two-level back-of-house at the rear of the space.

Thanks to Cedric for photos of Third Street Promenade 2 store, and to Gregory for the Palo Alto 2 photos taken in the last four days.

This view of the future store shows the future basement area. The enormous size of the space can be judged from size of the worker in the center of the photo, just above the plywood surrounding the crane.

This view towards the front of the store shows one side of the steel support structure that will hold the interior stone wall, and also provide support for the arched glass roof.

The front of Palo Alto 2 does not yet show the arched glass roof, but it does show the reddish structural steel on both sides that will support the stone walls.

The rear of Palo Alto 2 shows the half upper level and the rear of the ground floor. Both areas will be used for back-of-house space.

These outlines compare the parcel sizes for the three stores that share a similar design. The original Upper West Side store (in gray) sits on a large parcel, but relatively small when compared to the two future stores. The Third Street Promenade store will be much larger in both dimensions, while the Palo Alto store will be narrow and deep.