I timed my eBay purchase of a Shadyside grand opening T-shirt just right–I paid $33.98 a day after a collector paid $102 for the same shirt.

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b>Best Buy is renovating and rearranging the electronics sections of their sales floor, creating solution zones–just like the Apple stores. There are computers grouped with digital cameras and camcorders, and there are expanded sections for cellular handsets, camcorders, digital cameras, PDAs and mp3 players that include iPods. The latter category now has all models displayed [...]

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Apple officially announced the grand opening of the Stoneridge Mall (N. Calif.) store for Sept. 18th at 10 a.m. It will be store #84 for the company. Interestingly, the location is actually called "Stoneridge Shopping Center," but Apple is using the shorter name. There are four other stores in the San Francisco area still in [...]

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Local tipsters say there just isn’t any space under construction on Bethesda Row (Md.) that might be an Apple store. Job listings have been posted, and they usually appear within four to six months of a store’s opening. But in this case, it’s a mystery where the store might be located, and exactly how soon [...]

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Apple’s job listings now include the position of full-time and part-time "Studio Instructor" for the future Regent Street (London) store, indicating the store will have facilities to give fee-based classes on various topics.

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Up to now, Apple’s job openings for part-time Loss Prevention Officer have been limited to certain California locations. Now one has been listed for the Ala Moana (Hi.) store.

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Thanks to Jan for the link to photos of the Eindhoven (Netherlands), which continues the trend of using the standard Apple Centre architecture and design when these new stores are built, including the "kids" section (right). All the design work is coming from architects hired by Apple from England and Paris. It seems that as [...]

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I like to eat local, so a trip to West Des Moines (Ia.) found me seated in front of a nice cut of swordfish at the Seafood Market Restaurant on University Avenue. Somewhere from another booth I hear the words "toilet seat," and I immediately started thinking of those old fruit-colored iBooks–ah, the good old [...]

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AppleInsider reports that flagship retail stores will receive some number of G5 iMacs after Sept. 12th. The story implies the computers will be available for sale, not just display. So if you happen to be in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or San Francisco, go get touchy-feely!

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The JapanConsuming Web site has posted a story about the new Shinsaibashi (Japan) retail store, saying it drew 5,000 total visitors on opening day, more than other fashion-related openings in the same shopping district. The article also notes that the 4-story Ginza (Tokyo) store draws 4,000 visitors a day, who spend about $913,000 a week. [...]

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There’s at least one financial optimist about the retail stores: the investment firm Piper Jaffray & Co. has issued an update on Apple Computer, classifying its stock as "outperform." The company advised its clients that Wall Street investors are, "underestimating the power of Apple’s retail strategy," which includes attracting new customers through attractive storefronts in [...]

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Other Mac Web sites are hearing rumblings, and I can confirm, that Apple retailers at least in England feel they’re being squeezed out of the Apple market by lack of product supply. In particular, an Apple retailer in Manchester is very unhappy that his store can’t obtain even "ordinary" Apple products, and believes it’s a [...]

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You’ll recall that I visited Paris back in July to scout possible Apple store locations along the Champs Elysées. Now I’ve learned that Air France will vacate their space #119 near Rue Galilée just one block from the Arch De Triomphe. It’s definitely a high-profile location, and wide enough for an flagship Apple store, although [...]

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The Crossroads Mall in Boulder (Colo.) has suffered through a long, agonizing decline since open around 1963 on the city’s east side, not far from the University of Colorado. The mall’s multiple property owners have complicated any plans to upgrade the property. But late last year The Macerich Company finally struck agreements between the owners, [...]

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I’m receiving some vibes about the Regent Street (London) grand opening, in a country known for their tabloids newspapers and celebs, especially in the music industry. I’m not saying Her Majesty the Queen will appear, but the buzz is rising that Apple will have special visitors at the store when the doors first open.

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I’ve received lots of feedback on the Chicago area store closing report, including thoughts from G.K., who noted that, "It would signal to the outside world that Apple’s retail strategy is failing," and that it would seriously impact Apple’s stock value. He said it would also affect consumer perceptions, and would further tip the balance [...]

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All the computers in retail stores have sprouted an application dead-center in the middle of the screen with four options for obtaining more information about the store’s services and products. I’ve prepared a summary of what happens when you click on the icons.

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An Apple Centre has opened in Milano (Italy), and it follows the standard design for such stores–white interior, Corian furniture and wall graphics. It does look a tad small, however!

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Thanks to Ian, who notes that the MagnumMac stores in New Zealand are receiving the now-traditional Apple Centre make-over. An official Apple store isn’t a possibility, he said, but the existing Centres are now sprouting official graphics and design.

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When Apple reports its quarterly financial figures, it holds a tele-conference with the press and industry analysts. Participants frequently ask whether are any stores are under-performing, and if Apple would consider closing them. Apple’s response is invariably that the company doesn’t break out individual store financial figures, that some locations aren’t doing as well as [...]

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