Almost six years after it was assigned store #5 and hiring interviews were held, Apple will hold a grand opening for a store in Birmingham (Ala.) at The Summit mall on April 14th. It’s the first store in the state, bringing to 35 the number of states with stores. The first proposed space at the mall was too narrow and mall management was reportedly reluctant to let a computer retailer into the up-scale mall. Now the mall has undergone a 500,000 square-foot expansion, and Apple’s chic has been certified by 177 other stores. The opening is the first in the four southern states (with Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) that have long-suffered without an Apple store.
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Jose
April 7, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Doug R.
April 7, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Brian Kaemepn
April 7, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Bill Henry
April 9, 2007 at 9:59 am
Tom
April 9, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Jake
April 10, 2007 at 2:10 pm
speed42
April 10, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Cletus
April 10, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Jeff
April 12, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Skeeter
April 13, 2007 at 11:01 am
Doug R.
April 13, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Tansau
April 14, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Tansau
April 14, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Your comments...
Although I know Apple has to open new stores based on sound business metrics, I think it would be very nice if Apple opened a store in Katraina-ravaged New Orleans. Somewhere along the main shopping corridor on Canal Street or in the French Quarter would be a good location for them and close to the two street car lines. A new store would provide a real morale boost for a city needing some hope during it’s long recovery efforts. And all of Louisiana and Mississippi would have yet another great reason to visit New Orleans.
I think if Apple were to come to the N.O. area, it would probably be to somewhere on the Northshore of Lake Ponchatrain(probably Slidell) since they like to build stores in “Destination” and upscale shopping malls. Last time I was in Slidell there was alot of construction taking place, it looked like alot of fancy new shopping complexes and corporate space.
What space is the store going in, I’d like to add it to my list Gary? [IFO-The store will be in space F1.]
-Brian
Store #28 on the Summit store directory map, between Parisians and Restoration hardware.
Uh, I went to apple’s jobs site to apply to be a genius in alabama since it was impossible to find info. They list two locations:
Apply for current openings
Huntsville-Bridge St-R266 Alabama
Apply for future openings
Birmingham-The Summit-R225 Alabama 35213
They don’t list huntsville anywhere and you guys don’t list it on your site. Discovery???
Do they give away anything at an apple store opening? [IFO-They give out commemorative T-shirts to the first 1,000 visitors. There's always a grand prize sweepstakes that includes an iMac, and sometimes 10 lesser prizes.]
I just came from the Summit where I peeked through the plywood covering the front of the Apple store. The place was full of people working to get ready for Saturday’s opening, but not so full of Macs. Most of the displays were in construction. Looks like they’ve got a lot of work to do before 10 a.m. Saturday morning. But I can’t wait!
The panhandle of florida is so lonely for mac people no stores anywhere… has nyone updated the us map lately? Even better sent it to the good folks at apple who are planning the stores?
Cletus - There’s been rumors of a store going into Mobile. I would think their highest priority in Florida would have to be Orlando, although to some extent their chronology is driven by availability of storefront locations at a particular moment.
Tom - it might have been easy to miss this elsewhere on the site, but on the “Stores - current & future” page…
New - Bridge Street Town Centre - Huntsville, AL - This Main Street-type mall along I-565 on the city’s southwest side is part of Cummings Research Park, which also includes residential and office space. It has been delayed several times, but a June 2006 site plan (pdf) of the available 550,000 s.f. retail space includes Apple as “In discussion/negotiating” for a 4,000 s.f. space in the middle of the site (#108). The city is home to Redstone Arsenal, NASA facilities and contractors. The mall will include multi-screen cinema, office space, residential area, 63 shops and restaurants, and a Westin Hotel. Features bridges over a 10-acre lake, water taxis, fountains and tree-lined walks, all with a French-Italian theme. The mall is scheduled for a late Summer 2007 opening. Job listings appeared on Monster.com on Feb. 26th. Job listing appeared on Apple’s site March 1, 2007.
Drove by the store on lunch today.. no more plywood hiding the big APPLE logo. Looking very good for the opening tomorrow morning.
Apple is already in Orlando, maybe not Orlando proper, but still Orlando none the less. Apple stores are in the Mall at Millenia and the Florida Mall.
Some photos from the Birmingham Grand Opening:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojodenbowsphotostudio/
More as soon as the Flickr API is available again…
More photos from the Birmingham Grand Opening:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmacology/sets/72157600076526334/