ead-scratcher: Apple is advertising for an "Assistant Manager (Overnight Shift) SoHo" on its Web site. No…it’s not a signal that 24-hour Apple shopping will come to Manhattan. It can only mean there is lots of work that can’t be completed during the busy day-time shifts.

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The Regent Street (UK) store has become popular with Internet surfers who don’t want to pay to surf and retrieve their e-mail. According to one person, you can’t get a spot at any of the computers inside the store during the day, and Apple’s hands-off policy makes it impossible to squeeze in to go hands-on [...]

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Apple store postcards are back! Send someone a special Apple store postcard that showcases the dramatic design of the stores.

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The crazy guys at Crazy Apple Rumors have pulled another one out of their hat (or somewhere), revealing the future "Apple Baby" chain of retail stores, focused on kids five years-old and younger. The iPod shuffle is the "perfect pacifier" at these stores. Ha!

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The future Pioneer Place (Portland) retail store will reportedly occupy one-half of the space now occupied by a Gap store on the concourse level. No word on how the huge, L-shaped space will be divided. The mall was ID’d as a store site back in 2003, but apparently Apple couldn’t find an appropriate space–until this [...]

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Financial analysts at Piper Jaffray surveyed 30 Apple retail stores and 20 authorized resellers, and found demand for products was "ahead of expectations." Mac News Network reports the analysts feel that Apple’s earnings will be higher than previously forecast.

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A Philadelphia Business Journal story confirms an earlier tip that a former Borders Books space on Walnut Street downtown could be a future Apple store. The building was just sold, and the former owner said several retailers are interested in the 2-story space, including Apple. Most likely Apple would occupy only one-half of the 22,000 [...]

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The future Penn Square (Okla.) retail store will open in November, after an existing mall tenant moves out and Apple moves in.

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A Live Journal blogger, who also is a Mac Genius, briefly posted his/her on-the-job experiences working in a retail store, which portrayed a rather negative image of the job and its required tasks. The postings sparked lots of added comments with additional information about the position and store practices. The blog lasted about 10 days, [...]

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The Yorkdale (Toronto) mall management has retracted its claim of a grand opening date for the Apple store there. In a statement, the mall said, "The May 21, 2005 date was removed from the store boarding as we do not yet have a specific date for the store opening. Once we have a confirmed date [...]

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Apple announced the grand opening of the St. Johns Town Center (Fla.) on March 18th, which is a Friday.

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The in-store theaters now have their own Web page on Apple’s site, leading to four additional pages of regular events held at the venues. The page also has information on other in-store activities.

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The New York Times describes the renovation and design of the General Motors building plaza in New York City –it will feature a circular glass staircase leading down to the previously-revealed 25,000 square-foot Apple retail store, where construction has just begun. The story also has details on the stairway design, including a midnight mock-up.

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Respondents to an on-line survey by mall developer Macerich Corp. consider an Apple retail store the "most wanted" retailer for the 29th Street development Macerich is constructing on 62 acres in Boulder (Colo.) The votes: Apple-573, Anthropologie-135, Sur La Table-80, Smith & Hawken-56, Lucy-20. The mall will include a 16-screen cinema, restaurants and grocery store, [...]

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The North Michigan Avenue (Chicago) store is certainly "downtown," but its location on the Magnificent Mile is north of the city’s original and historic State Street shopping district that includes giants Marshall Fields (founded 1902), Sears (1893) and Carson Pirie Scott (1854). The district has experienced a recent retail upswing that includes Old Navy, Nordstrom [...]

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Apple is promoting its Express Tour presentations at retail stores, where Logic Express and Final Cut Express HD software is demonstrated and explained. Check the Web page for store locations, dates and times.

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Thanks to Etienne and Ryan for the photo confirming the barricade paint job at the future Yorkdale (Toronto) Apple store. Indeed, Apple has announced a May 21st grand opening date.

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Thanks to Scott for the photo of the future 58th/5th Ave. retail store, which show a white construction barricade along the west side of the General Motors building.

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The Victoria Gardens (S. Calif.) retail store has now joined the rotating group of store photos on the Retail home page. Unlike the Union Square (N. Calif) store photo, they didn’t use Photoshop to remove lots of street lights and other storefront distractions.

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Apple is advertising for a Sr. Manager, Retail Public Relations. Responsibilities include, "leading media efforts for all Apple retail store openings, as well as creating and implementing creative, proactive PR plans to promote the Apple store experience and retail offerings."

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