In a Wall Street Journal article on the mini-stores, Sr. V-P Retail Ron Johnson said "many" of the stores will be in locales where Apple does not yet have a store presence, or in locales within 15 minutes of an existing an store. According to my count, two of the identified locations are in new [...]

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I mentioned Bethesda-based MacUpgrades yesterday, a 15-year Apple reseller storefront that has a very dubious distinction: Apple’s reseller locator Web page shows that MacUpgrades is only 1,000 feet from a future mini-store, about 3-1/2 miles from the Montgomery Mall (Md.) store, and six miles from the Arlington (Virg.) store. What’s more, the Web page shows [...]

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Watch this video of the Santa Rosa Plaza (N. Calif.) retail store grand opening.

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Watch the video of the Santa Rosa Plaza (N. Calif.) grand opening.

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Don’t be fooled by the sparse interior of the new mini-stores. They have a back storeroom that keeps stock of other items not on display, including 23-inch and 30-inch Cinema Displays.

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No sooner does Apple officially announce the mini-stores, than I start receiving tips on other locations, including one on 12th Street in downtown Portland and another in Venice (S. Calif.). I know Apple has several additional locations in mind, and perhaps even under construction–let me know of any mini-store locations you might spot.

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Apple is having the sidewalk re-done in front of the Regent Street store, a project that traditionally accompanies their retail store construction, and demonstrates their attention to detail. Workers are also installing the glass into the spaces between the four arches, which means that Apple logos could be appearing on the storefront any time.

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Only a single 30-inch Cinema Display has been delivered to southern California stores that sell Apple gear, according to one account, and the staff there hasn’t moved it onto the display floor because of its high value. You’d think that the flagship store at The Grove would be first in line for one of the [...]

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Eat a lobster, buy an Apple. That’s my new slogan for the future Bethesda Row store, which will open at 4829 Bethesda Ave., next to the Cameron Seafood restaurant. It’s a 1,700 s.f. space that’s the perfect size for a mini-store–although that’s probably not what the staff at MacUpgrades is thinking! By any measure, they’re [...]

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As of noon, Apple hasn’t removed the plywood barricades in front of the new mini-stores here in the Bay Area…waiting until the last minute.

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Apple has posted the locations and grand opening details for its new chain of mini retail stores. They feature back-lit photos on the walls, stainless steel walls, and a trim and clean fit intended to attract a younger, more hip demographic into the stores. Apple has also posted a press release on the stores, [...]

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The mini-stores were officially unveiled during a satellite-televised press event at the Stanford (N. Calif.) store, with Steve Jobs standing in front of a giant black curtain, which swept back to reveal the new design. Presumably the video was fed to the retail stores and other company locations. Ironically, only two photos of the event, [...]

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The future Jordan Creek (Iowa) store now sports a stainless steel front and back-lit Apple logo, according to a tipster’s photo that peers over the front white plywood.

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Apple confirmed that it will open six mini-stores this Saturday, saying the smaller size will allow the company to bring its products to more people, in "interesting new locations." During today’s financial conference call, CFO Peter Oppenheimer said the stores would feature an "entirely new retail design," and would be half the size of [...]

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Apple’s Retail segment reported record revenues of $376 million for the 4th fiscal quarter, up from $270 million in the previous quarter, and up from $193 million for the same quarter of 2003. Sales of CPUs were also up: the stores sold 98,000 units during the quarter, compared to 73,000 during the previous quarter, [...]

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