Apple will divert from its recent penchant for placing stores in major metro areas, and locate a new store at the Fashion Fair Mall in Fresno (Calif.), the heart of the state’s agricultural valley. The city’s average household income puts it in the bottom 10 percent among existing Apple store locations. Other economic demographics would also seem to discourage locating a store in the city. However, agriculture contributes nearly $3 billion to the annual regional economy, and that may help create shoppers who can afford Apple’s products. The store could open mid-summer in an unknown space at the mall.
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Sayhey
January 17, 2007 at 7:31 am
Patrick Wilson
January 17, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Steven
January 17, 2007 at 5:24 pm
Jared
February 2, 2007 at 11:52 am
Joseph Shmoesly
February 3, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Ron
February 4, 2007 at 12:22 am
Austin
March 30, 2007 at 4:32 pm
James
May 31, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Your comments...
Gary, it’s the sixth largest metro area in the 50 US states without an Apple store, so this doesn’t really look like a departure from “placing stores in major metro areas.” In fact, along with the new staff recruitment for stores in Birmingham, Alabama and Tulsa, Oklahoma this means Apple is planning in the next year to place at least three stores in three of the top ten metro areas without stores today. Will New Orleans, Greensboro, Louisville, and Dayton be far behind?
Sayhey
Fresno is a perfect location. The valley really needs an Apple store to serve the central valley. We are over 2 hours away from the nearest store. I can’t tell you how many of my mac friends are fed up with Compusa. My only question is that although Fashsion Fair has recently remodeled it is in south central Fresno now and the more modern River Park area is better suited to the income level that Apple looks for.
Regardless, all the mac fans will flock to it if this is true. I for one can’t wait.
That mall ( http://www.fashionfairmall.com/ ) is located on the northern side of the city, where Fresno has seen more growth compared to other areas. I grew up a few miles south of Fresno, so I’ll definitely plan on stopping by when visiting family still in the area. One caveat for non-Californians: Fresno in mid-summer can be extremely hot. Last year, they had several days in a row above 110 F. Yosemite is just a couple of hours away, so if visiting from afar, that might be a good side-trip.
“Agricultural” valley? It’s not like they are putting the store in the middle of some orchard, LOL.
Fresno is one of the largest cities in California, with a metro area of over 1 million people. I think you are confused about the location.
It’s about friggin time we got an Apple store around here. CompUSA was seriously negligent in there support. Sure they had a whole isle-and-a-half (sarcasm intended) but it was hard to find anyone that worked there that knew anyhting about them. I personally am supprized that we haven’t put one in here earlier. While, yes, the people that are from here are broke. There are people that work in other parts of California and then comute from Fresno every day simply beceause it is cheap to live down here in the valley.
Apple is from the bay area and it’s typical for “Bay-Aryans” to be surprised that we can operate a pencil. It’s a marvel that we even know how to use an iBook or an iPod.
Its about time!!! With all the people and schools with macs and ipods in this city I thought it would be a no brainer to put an Apple store here.
Its going to be awesome. Trust me guys.