The city of Kansas City (Mo.) granted nine square-blocks of the downtown to The Cordish Co. to create a $800 million arts and entertainment district next to H&R Block’s corporate headquarters and the Sprint Center. As part of the construction on the Power and Light District, a strange stainless steel façade has appeared in the 1300 block of Main Street, somewhat resembling an Apple retail storefront, but with sloppy panel alignment and a strange upper-level, off-center “window” instead of a back-lit Apple logo. The location hasn’t previously been noted as a possible Apple store location, and none of the developer’s leasing plans show Apple as a tenant.
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A group of anti-capitalist protesters stormed the Regent Street (London) store last Saturday, singing a message to visitors not to spend money during the holiday season. The group of about 20 persons was forced back outside by the store’s staff without incident. However, about 30 minutes later someone from the group apparently returned and left a box of rocket-style fireworks at the open front door after lighting the fuses. As the fireworks began to fly, the Concierges moved quickly to close the front doors as the fireworks exploded around them. A store visitor saw no obvious injuries, but did say one of the brave Concierge staffers had to wash out his eyes from smoke after the attack. [Read the comments for an alternative view and video link.]
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Each New York City store has its own personality, according to a consolidated calendar brochure now available in the three stores. The multi-panel, fold-out brochure includes daily and special events for the Fifth Avenue, SoHo and West 14th Street stores during December, but also explains the specific personalities of the stores. Under the banner of “Three amazing stores. One amazing city,” the brochure paints Fifth Avenue as the 24-hour store that fits your schedule. For SoHo, the brochure promotes the theater and its “unique events and workshops.” And the 14th Street store, “is dedicated to service, support, personal training, and Pro Labs.” The brochure concludes, “That’s three amazing stores, and countless reasons to visit.”
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Apple’s search for the perfect Brooklyn (NYC) store location now includes 345 Adams Street, a city-owned property that was just purchased by Muss Development as part of a future corridor of upscale shops and restaurants. Real estate sources say Apple is among several retailers interested in some part of 40,000 square-feet of space that Muss will convert from office to retail occupancy in the former court building. Other companies interested in the space include clothier Barney’s, The Gap and Banana Republic. A new Marriott Hotel tower has just been added next door, and several other developments are planned for the area. The location is about 2-1/2 miles from the existing SoHo Apple store, north across the East River.
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As the busy holiday shopping season slides into its last weeks, Apple’s store brochures provide a reminder of gifts and giving. The iTunes Gift Cards have a snowflake pattern, a card promotes Apple’s corporate gift program, and an elaborate ProCare package gives members the feeling they belong. All of these items are in addition to a three-panel gift guide that promotes Apple’s most popular products. Check these photos that show how Apple’s brochures reflect the season.
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A black tarp with a white Apple logo has appeared in front of an empty retail space at the Jockey Plaza shopping mall in Lima (Peru, SA), but it belongs to an authorized reseller using the iStore name. The mall in the city of nearly 8 million is the country’s largest, and features many international stores that attract young shoppers. The space is on the second level, around the corner from the food court, as shown in photos snapped by Jeremy. According to sources, the store will carry the full range of Apple products, along with third-part accessories and gear. [The words "Authorized Reseller" appeared under the logo shortly after this article was posted.]
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Long-time rumors of an upper West Side New York City store seem to be confirmed by the New York Post, which says Apple will take over the existing Victoria’s Secret store at 1981 Broadway at 67th Street in that city. According to the newspaper, Apple plans to demolish the existing two-story building and create its own space. However, city records indicate that no permits have yet been issued for any construction. Victoria’s Secret moved into the building in 2001, one of several it has in Manhattan. If true, it would be the fourth store in Manhattan. read more…
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A large glass partition separating the display sections of the Montgomery Mall (Md.) Apple store shattered for an unknown reason, creating a pile of pebble-sized pieces on the stone floor. Visitor jjsixty6 said he heard a cracking sound, turned and saw the tempered glass partition begin to crumble and drop. He took an iPhone photo of the aftermath which shows the debris that employees had to clean up.
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A group of passionate Puerto Rico Apple enthusiasts have formed a group that hopes to convince the company to locate an official retail store on the island. The iWant MUG has over 940 signatures on a petition, and will hold a rally at the Plaza Las Americas (San Juan) mall on January 8th, where they hope Apple will locate. The group notes that the island attracts 26 million visitors each year, with buying power of $12 billion, providing an excellent sales opportunity for Apple. The rally will form in the mall’s parking lot to gather signatures and take photos/video of the event. They’ll have lunch in the food court wearing their white “iWant an Apple Store in Puerto Rico” T-shirts, and then adjourn to a nearby bowling alley for a family event. Check the group’s English Web page, and then explore the rest of the Web site.
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Apple’s retail stores in Japan will once again celebrate the New Year with a Lucky Bag event by selling a limited number of bags containing iPod-focused products. This year 10 bags a day are being sold from December 6th to 25th at $312 each. Retail stores will begin selling bags on January 2nd. The bags typically contain products worth more than the sales price, and are a holiday tradition in Japan.
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The snow flurries ended, the sun went down and the temperature began to drop again just before the grand opening of the West 14th Street (NYC) store this evening. Perhaps it would have warmed us up if we knew celebs would be attending. The crowd of about 800 on the 14th St. sidewalk began to spill over onto 9th Avenue, and eventually led all the way west onto 15th Street. Crowds of passersby began to form about 5 p.m. as the crowd grew, as workers who were headed home noticed the crowd and stopped to watch and take pictures. The line had been moved between bicycle fencing around 3 p.m., and now made three back-and-forth trips along the 14th St. sidewalk west of the store. As 6 p.m. neared, four Concierge staffers came outside in the their teal-colored T-shirts to pump up the crowd. The staffers inside posed for photos on the uppers levels of the stairs, and then dispersed to their work stations to greet the incoming visitors. At 6 p.m. the security team motioned in the crowd with the admonition, “Slow…slow,” and we went inside to a deafening roar–clapping and yelling and music–to grab our T-shirts and poster tubes. Three stories above, staffers crowded the rail and rimmed the staircase to provide applause and excitement. The crowd mostly made for the third floor where you redeemed any prizes, or hung out on the ground floor. And then everyone spotted Mary J. Blige on the second floor, palling around with Whoopi Goodberg. They both signed autographs and Blige posed for photos. It seemed that most people were more interested in the prizes and celebrities than the rest of the store, and there seemed to be little buying. By the time I left at 7:45 p.m. the line reached substantially west on 15th St. behind the store–I hand counted over 1,600 in line, with nearly 100 people standing around just watching. Check the comments for more info and also full report that includes photos.
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I”ve arrived in line as #5. The first person in line arrived from the Bronx at 2 a.m. after he says he received an e-mail from Apple promising that laptops would be given away to the first 10 in line. The next three men are also here because they heard a radio DJ say there would be merchandise give-aways. The two persons behind me arrived believing the store opened at 6 a.m. and also heard the DJ remark. By 6:15 a.m. there were 16 persons in line, and by 8 a.m. there were 22–the two behind me among them. The line has grown to 55 at 11:30 a.m. under cloudy skies. At 12:30 an Apple staffer came by to explain the giveaway to the 62 in-line: visitors will be given a T-shirt and poster, and upon opening the poster cap they will learn if they’re a winner, with the prize awarded instantly ($10 iTunes Gift Card, iPod shuffle, iPod touch, Macbook). Prizes are entirely random over the entire evening. Apparently no one left the line after the announcement, but many were disappointed. CNBC is doing live video without a reporter, as part of a story on upcoming new products, success of the retail stores and the rise in Apple’s stock price (up $14.30 this week). The line is at about 400 at 3:15 p.m. Snow flurries started at 4 p.m., with the line snaking back-and-forth all the way to the end of the block. Maybe 750 in line? Now at 5:11 p.m. the snow has stopped and the line continues to grow around the corner onto 9th Ave. T-shirts and posters have been placed out. Scores of curious line the sidewalks to watch the spectacle.
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Confirmation of six new stores and official statements indicate that expansion for Apple stores in the coming year will be focused on international locations, including Brazil and Mexico. During the Thursday’s press event for the 14th Street (NYC) store, Sr. V-P Retail Ron Johnson told an Engadget.com reporter that there will be a larger number of international stores among the 40 or so that will opening in fiscal 2008. His remark comes on the heels of a reported interview with mall developer Carlos Jereissati Filho, who is quoted as saying that two Apple-built stores will open in Sao Paulo (Brazil), with the first opening this month at the Shopping Iguatemi mall. The second store will open in 2008 in the Shopping Marketplace mall, he is to have said. Next, tipsters report that Apple is now negotiating with Reichmann International for space in the Torre Mayor office complex in Mexico City. It’s the tallest building in the city and include 33,300 square-feet of ground floor retail space, where Apple may eventually locate. Lastly, there are three new stores planned for the UK, at the huge Westfield London mall opening in late 2008 northwest of that city, in the Covent Garden district of London, and another in an unverified northern city. [Update - Other sources say the Sao Paulo stores will actually be branches of the FastShop electronics chain, and not official Apple stores.]
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I’ve arrived in New York City for Friday’s grand opening of the 14th Street Apple store. It was nearly dark when I arrived at 4:30 p.m., temperatures were in the low 30s and there is a very light dusting of snow here and there. Of course, the city is jammed with residents and visitors, and the Christmas lights are out, giving the city a very festive look. The overnight forecast is no snow but temperatures in the upper 20s. Thursday might see some light snow and a high of around 40 degrees. Check my grand opening report that includes the first photos at night, and also these daytime photos.
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Apple officially announced the grand opening of its three-story 14th Street (NYC) store with a press release and a Web page, for this Friday the 7th at 6 p.m. The press release offers no details about the store, but the Web page urges, “Make tracks to the grand opening of NYC’s newest and largest Apple Retail Store.” The Web page notes they’ll be giving out an unstated number of commemorative T-shirts “and other special surprises while they last.” The store will routinely be open from 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, not 24-hours. read more…
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