New California Store on Hold

October 26th, 2006

Despite initial design proposals and employee recruiting earlier this year, there’s been no further action on Apple’s plans for a San Luis Obispo (Calif.) retail store. Public documents indicate that Apple submitted proposals in early May 2006 to modify the façade of the retail space at 899 Higuera Street in preparation for a new store. Renderings submitted to the city’s Cultural Heritage Committee (CHC) shows a storefront with a narrow band of stainless steel surrounding tall display windows. An existing red-brick column would be removed under Apple’s original plan. The project was nearly approved without publicity until written public comments forced the CHC to hold a hearing to consider the design’s impact on the historic downtown district of the city. The CHC approved the proejct with some required changes. But since then, Apple’s representatives have twice asked to postpone a review by the city’s Architectural Review Commission. Their last request on August 15th said, “Please continue this item to a date uncertain.”


Also read...

  • Mission Viejo Opening Set - Jan 17, 2004
  • Band Listening Party - Apr 24, 2006
  • No Title - Sep 10, 2005
  • Another California Opening - Jun 5, 2007
  • California Leads Store Revenues - Nov 14, 2007
    		•

    e-mail this story e-mail this story

    Subscribe to this post comment rss or trackback url

    Apple really needs to get a store in Santa Barbara, not San Luis Obispo. There already is a very decent store in SLO (Mac Superstore), and there isn’t a good one in SB at all, just a couple dinky repair shops and CompUSA. SB also has a larger population than SLO county, and has a much greater average home price, income, etc.

    Apple’s tried to get in to SB, but I think that they’re not willing to make any sacrifices, so if they don’t end up on State street, SB will just have to be without a store.

    Bob October 26, 2006 at 1:42 pm

    First of all, I haven’t been to SB in well over ten years, so maybe I don’t know what I am talking about. I will site one example of a somewhat anti-business mindset in SB. I have a friend who is chief of engineering for a cell-phone carrier. He has overseen the initial construction of and subsequent upgrade of two different systems. He tells me that there is a 100 percent ban on cell-sites in the city limits of SB, even if the site’s electronics and antenae are completely concealed. So it is not hard to imagine Apple encountering some resistance to puting a modernistic stainless-steel storefront in a historic retail district. I am one who feels Apple should work harder to make their stores better fit their surroundings. I doesn’t seem to have hurt the SOHO store. I have personally visited 17 stores. I think it would be very fair to say that the Simi Valley, Manhattan Beach and Irvine Spectrum stores are kind of shoehorned into their respective shopping centers. “Stick out like a sore thumb” might be a bit strong. Blend with, without blending in should be their goal when there is very strong established look.

    Cedric Brown October 29, 2006 at 11:21 am

    I haven’t seen any construction work of any sort yet at the 716 State St “Proposed Mac Retail Store,” and it’s definitely been leased - any new leads on it one way or the other?

    Chad November 3, 2006 at 10:17 am
    Your comments...

     Name (required)

     E-mail address (required, not posted)

     Website (optional)