Mike reports it’s a hot, breezeless 91° F. in Tokyo right now (4:30 p.m., Friday), and there is no line for the Shibuya store grand opening. He sends along exclusive photos of the storefront and interior of the store, which opens Saturday morning at 10 a.m. You can catch a glimpse of the circular [...]

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Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Gwinn discusses (reg. req.) who to visit when your Macintosh suffers a problem–one of Apple’s retail stores or a third-party reseller? Gwinn says he shopped a dead iBook around to several Apple stores, and learned of their $300 diagnostic fee. Instead, he landed at reseller MacSpecialist in Villa Park, which only [...]

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A tipster notes that the previous store’s façade is still standing in the space of the future Burlington Mall (Mass.) retail store, and that the interior is a jumble of construction materials. Don’t expect a grand opening for several months.

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MyMac writer Guy Serle took a vacation, but ended up reporting on MacLife, an Apple reseller in Boise (Idaho).

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Just two days before the grand opening, Apple issued a press release announcing the Shibuya (Tokyo) retail store.

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A survey of the top 65 real estate markets by research firm Reis Inc. found mall vacancies fell slightly to 5.1% in the latest quarter, while the average rent stayed steady at $37.75 per sq. foot per year.

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Apple released its full quarterly financial report (pdf), showing that it has so far committed $1.061 billion towards retail store lease commitments and capital expenditures. They’ve also made an unstated commitment for in-store and HQ support staff payroll.

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The Swiss-based MacPrime Web site says that plans for a Zurich (Switzerland) Apple retail store have firmed up–the store will occupy the former Benetton clothing store space on the busy Bahnhofstrasse, home to many high-end retailers. [Rumor later debunked: it will be an Apple Centre operated by DataQuest AG.)

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The future Penn Square (Okla.) retail store in under construction and behind the standard black-painted plywood. Interviews for store employees will start in two weeks, and the store could be open by late September.

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The opening of the future Trafford Centre (UK) retail store has been pushed back by about two weeks, to mid or late November.

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Reporter Troy Wolverton writes on the investment site TheStreet.com that Apple’s retail stores, "may be a significant reason Apple has gained share in the computer market." He then adds, "But if the stores have boosted short-term sales, they may weigh on long-term results."

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A New York Times story provides additional details on Apple’s Flatiron district retail store plans, including that the lease is almost $800,000 a year, and that the first design proposal to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission featured a gray limestone façade. A second, glass-front design was rejected by the Community Board, and goes before the [...]

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The NorthPark (Dallas) mall Web site indicates a February 2006 grand opening for the future Apple store there.

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A Dallas newspaper claims the Northpark (Tex.) retail store will open November 11th, the same day that Nordstrom’s opens.

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Thanks to Glenn for feedback on my "black-out zone" map of Apple store locations, including the observation that, "Apple’s boundaries are all about a vortex that is creating a storm of business within a confined area." He says coverage will never be "thin and even over the whole of the U.S., but thick and laid [...]

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