An on-going project to renovate older Apple stores is still active, as evidenced by the closure of the Roosevelt Field (NY) store from March 17th to April 11th. The store is #33 in the company’s chain, and opened July 20, 2002. As part of the renovation project, older stores are being switched to the newer interior design, including swapping wood flooring for stone, installing stainless steel walls, and reconfiguring the stores’ layout. During the almost four week closure, the Walt Whitman store’s Web page points customers to the Smith Haven or Walt Whitman stores.
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Howie Isaacks - Former MG
March 18, 2008 at 5:47 am
Brian Kaempen
March 18, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Mark Wilson
March 18, 2008 at 4:45 pm
James
March 19, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Your comments...
They keep leaving Willow Bend off the list for renovations. Willow Bend was the 3rd store that opened (8/3/2001). Rumor has it that Apple may move that location. Has anyone heard anything? Willow Bend gets a lot of business these days. The Creatives have to conduct their One to One appointments using floor machines which often causes issues when the store is very busy. There is no Studio at Willow Bend. Apple expanded the Genius Bar in the Summer of 2006 but, that’s the only renovation that Willow Bend has received.
I’m with you Howie. The Woodfield IL store was the 5th to open (8/23/01) and it too has only received moderate renovations. The wooden floor has been replaced only once I believe and is still wood, not stone. The theatre was removed a year or so ago when the Genius Bar assumed it’s spot and turned the former Genius Bar into more iPod accessory shelving. No Studio, and while this is merely cosmetic, the exterior consists of black panels not the stainless steel. Woodfield Mall is the busiest in all of Illinois and as such, the Apple Store is always busy. I was surprised when the skateboard shop next door closed that Apple didn’t gobble up that space and expand, instead a small woman’s clothing store went in. Hopefully both these stores will be enlarged and/or updated soon, sounds like they both need them.
-Brian
Never be surprised by anything that happens in retail. The former skate shop space may be subleased to the new store and Apple did not want split leases. Maybe the center doesn’t want a store that large in that location, maybe there is a physical problem that prevents expansion, maybe Apple is planning another store in the area and won’t need the larger space, maybe the center did not tell Apple that it going to be available, maybe Apple could not schedule construction for the time or maybe the owner of the clothing store is the mistress of the center manager.
It is too bad that the wooden floors don’t hold up. Try working at an Apple store and standing on stone all day long.
Westfarms needs a renovation as well. It’s like the stores above. It’s very annoying when you go there on the weekend. The creatives take a whole section of the store and there are hardly any computers.