Comments on: Second Scotland Store Confirmed

By: Eddie

Eddie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:46:14 +0000

Definitely Urban Outfitters going into the Zavvi store!
New plans are on line at the local Council.

I reckon Apple has had a look at the state of Edinburgh City Centre and said ‘forget it!’
How could they have a grand opening in their usual style, with an 8 foot high wire fence and a huge building site 10 feet in front of their new shop front. The fact that they are now recruiting for a new store in Aberdeen means surely that Edinburgh will not see an Apple Store for a few years at least, until this tram nonsense is finally up and running or cancelled forever!

By: Cris

Cris — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:08:32 +0000

I am getting goose-pimples reading these rumours. The truth is, the old Scotsys store on Nicolson Street, recently taken over by Cancom, describes itself as a Premium Apple Retailer but they really cannot cope with the demand. There are always long queues and (as they freely confess) although they have an engineer, any sort of servicing is quicker done by sending away to Apple themselves. I think an Apple store on Princes Street would be the most exciting thing to have happened in Edinburgh for years. It would make a big impact and would certainly be packed with eager shoppers – including plenty of students with money to spend.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:29:31 +0000

I would be surprised if Urban Outfitters went in there…that Zavvi’s is massive and there is no way Urban Outfitters could use that amount of space. The Glasgow location is about a tenth of the size.

By: John Muir

John Muir — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:24:14 +0000

The Evening News may well be wrong. (It wouldn’t exactly be the first time.)

A friend of mine (who’s not into Apple himself) has a mutual contact with the building owner. They weren’t naming names, but the man in the middle was laughing at how obvious it was that Apple was involved. Apparently no one else is that willing to spend good money overhauling a perfectly good front street shop right now.

My mate told me this only after I brought up the subject myself. “Oh that! It’s been a done deal for months.”

I know: rumours like this are lame. But what can I say: it’s my first!

And as we know: Apple is expanding its retail chain and has the finance to back it. I wouldn’t be sure about other, wholly retail, firms.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:15:58 +0000

Urban Outfitters targets empty Princes Street store

From the Edinburgh Evening News, last month:

Published Date: 07 March 2009
AMERICAN fashion chain Urban Outfitters looks set to open a new store on a prime site in Princes Street.
The company currently has only one branch in Scotland, in Glasgow city centre, and is said to be ready to take over the former Zavvi music store in Princes Street, which closed at the end of last year.

A source was quoted as saying: “It’s in the final stages of negotiations.

“The deal has all but been agreed and all being well the fit-out should be under way within the next few months.”

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:06:49 +0000

Have a look at Apple’s Job opportunities – new stores opening
UNION SQUARE, ABERDEEN!
Where did that come from?

By: John Muir

John Muir — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:38:35 +0000

Nice find. I’m inclined to agree.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:40:43 +0000

Check this link

If that doesn’t look like the front of an Apple Store (with access for tenants on the left) I don’t know what does.

A dark granite shop front, as far as I know, would be a first for an Apple Store

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:22:35 +0000

Approval granted for the development at 124 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Still no names or identities on the plans – but the dark granite ‘goalpost’ design on the front, the removal of a perfectly good staircase and the indication of a new staircase up to the mezzanine level and down to the basement (‘details to be included in the interior fittings plans’) seem to point to an Apple store – or maybe not? Time will tell!

By: Eddie

Eddie — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:10:27 +0000

Derek, I think your right.
The old Virgin Megastore moved out of 124/125 Princes Street and the short-lived Zavvi took over.
However, Apple are said to have signed up in April. The premises were advertised for let in July, and Zavvi only closed in September.
In late December, plans (dated October) were submitted to Edinburgh District Council for “Proposed new shop front, minor external alteration including replacement windows, new bin stores and entrance, internal reconfiguration to allow for additional retail floor space”
No names, no details, and no drawings apart from the location plan.
But, with CDA as architects, F&C Property Management, and Montague Evans this is a big business, whatever it is.
The plans specify it as a six storey building, so it would appear that the new tenants may plan to sub-let part of the building.
The application is “pending consideration” so we’ll keep an eye on it!

By: John Muir

John Muir — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:03:15 +0000

You mean the big old Virgin Megastore that’s been there since I were a nipper, saving up for the Super Nintendo games? The rebranding may have been shortlived, but the store had been there since the early 90’s. Its closure looks 100% financial abandonment and 0% speedy turnaround for a new owner.

Walking down Princes Street the other day, it was striking just what it’s been turning into. Even while the economy was still good, the street was going downhill. Just look at the outbreak of really tacky tourist shops which seems to be spreading from the middle. These aren’t even aimed at the same crowd as the cluster on the Royal Mile, but go squarely for the boozing lads market; whether it be visiting sports fans or dare I even say Prague style weekend bachelor parties? That’s no sustainable or even sensible aim for the city’s central and singularly panoramic street. How did it get to this?

Most curious of all: the designer shops following Harvey Nichols into the east end where the grimy old bus station used to be. Is St. Andrews Square becomming the new Princes Street?

Apple certainly has all the options and time in the world when it comes down to it. I hope the half million or so addressable consumers are enough to convince them this sliding town is still worth investing in. It’ll be telling to see what the financial services squeeze does to all of Edinburgh. It’s a highly exposed town.

By: Derek

Derek — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:45:39 +0000

What about further west on Princes St. where the short lived Zavvi store was until about Sept. of ‘08? Perhaps they had to leave to make way for an Apple store? It’s massive in there and would be a great location since it actually affords a view of the castle and thus matches the description of many of the location rumours.

By: Ryan Adam

Ryan Adam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:43:06 +0000

Eddie, are you getting your bridges mixed up? Across from Waverley Bridge is the Old Waverley Hotel, H&M, Mexx and the Arcadia Store (Burtons, etc). And the only places where Next is/was is in the St James Centre, or on Princess Street

Look at this:

http://www.grabup.com/uploads/f6bd0852fe35df780821550d82523b50.png

By: Eddie

Eddie — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:27:47 +0000

Apple won’t be going into the old Post Office, that’s for sure.
The story that they are waiting for an existing rental customer to move out would indicate that the building in question could be the NEXT shop, straight across from Waverley Bridge. They have recently moved out and the windows are covered up. If it is, the outside is virtually an Apple Store already! Lots of glass and new, clean lines.
Good location, and handy for the bus and train stations.
We’ll keep watching!

By: John Muir

John Muir — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:04:30 +0000

Oops: I’m informed I’m an image thief! Charming…

The locked picture is from this list:
http://henniker.org.uk/html/views_from_scott_monument.htm