The glass elevator at the Regent Street (UK) store has been revealed–and it’s square! The MacWorld UK Web site shows the glass-paneled elevator, and also explains that the sales areas have been expanded (18,500 s.f. to 28,000) into the rear area of the building, with previous storage areas moved to the basement. That makes the store the largest in Apple’s chain. There are 75% more products in store and 50% more computers on display. There is new iPod Bar, in addition to a renovated Genius Bar and the existing Studio. Sadly, the “skylight” feature over the stairs has been removed and replaced with a huge stainless steel panel [thanks to Brian for noticing that!]. The story mentions Steve Cano, who is now Sr. Director of International Retail. Cano was once manager at the SoHo (NYC) store, and eventually moved to Tokyo to direct the opening of the company’s first international store at Ginza. Cano noted that staffers are now using “chip and PIN” devices (portable computers) to process credit card purchases. The devices are common in many European restaurants and stores, but are new to Apple’s Regent Street store. [flickr photos]
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I went there a few hours ago - on opening day, just before close. The upper floor is now about twice the size of the lower floor. It’s really surprising because when you enter at street level, it seems not much has changed. However, if you go straight up the stairs, you find yourself in this vast expanse of space with nothing but the glass elevator in the middle. It feels so spacious, it’s amazing. You’d never think you were standing on some of the most expensive real estate anywhere in the world, and I have to say that upper floor - with new theatre, extra stations, twin iPod and Mac bars - feels somehow much warmer and more inviting than either of the floors ever felt before. Good job Apple!
any photos?
The chip and pin handhelds are not new - they have been used in the Manchester Arndale store since it opened. They are common in many shops and restaurants sin “chip and pin” technology was adopted in the UK last year.
Chip and Pin is NOT new! Its been compulsary to use it since Febuary 14th 2006 (valentines day!) If theyre are using wireless PDQ machines that might be new! But they must have been using ship & pin before even if it was just at the cash desks.
thanks for the link to the SJohnson2005 flickr pics!
How come nobody has commented on the disappearance of the “skylight” feature on the ceiling?? It was so talked about and then in the first flicker picture, it appears to no longer be there. Was it too difficult to maintain, like if Apple used florescent tubes to cast the blue glow rather than LEDs they would go out quicker and would’ve then been very difficult to access.
So I guess now North Michigan Avenue is nowhere close to being the largest store anymore, shucks. I was just at NMA the other day and it felt really small when comparing it to photos of 5th avenue or regent street. All are still very beautiful stores.
-Brian
The skylight feature was removed way back in May, at the time it was rumoured that Apple could be expanding up the way rather that out the way. Such a rumour was later debunked when Apple revealed the ceiling in late May.
A better view of the new ceiling can be seen below.
Thanks Alex.
-Brian
From the flickr pics, it seens there isn’t a cash desk on the groung floor any more, is this true?
Chip and PIN actually was not compulsory from Feb ‘06 - retailers just got together and decided to make it compulsory for *customers* to pay with chip and pin if they have a chip and pin card. Retailers don’t have to use chip and pin, however if they don’t (and i think this was in effect from Feb ‘06) the *retailer* is liable for fraudulent transactions from chip and pin cards, whereas normally the card issuer/processor is. I worked in a store that didn’t use chip and pin for about 6 months after Feb ‘06 and customers frequently commented that we where supposed to be using it, but that isn’t true at all - stores that make customers use chip and pin just don’t want to have to be responsible for fraudulent transactions, and like to make it sound like they’re being forced to do it so to stop customers whining about it. Different card issuers also have different policies - for example American Express sent us literature saying they will still let some customers sign if they want to (you tell the till that it’s a card without a chip and before it’ll print out asking for a signature it contacts amex to ask if it can - it does this with any other card that you tell it doens’t have a chip too so that way you can’t bypass chip and pin if you’re not supposed to be, since the card issuer will tell the till you should use the chip and pin machine) and won’t be replacing any non-pin cards until they expire. I myself cannot remember whether the regent street store had handheld till before the refit though.