The job of scouting out future Apple retail store sites usually falls to fellow enthusiasts in distant cities and towns, since I can’t travel everywhere. I receive lots of e-mail each day providing tips, photos, maps and other information about up-coming sites. But there’s more work to be done! After the break, check my list of identified future store locations that need to be better defined.
Here’s the on-going, every-changing list of future or potential Apple store locations for which I seeking information. (I’ve posted feedback from commenters after posting this article, and have updated the entries in brackets.)
- Geneva (Switzerland) – What is the store’s exact address on Rue de Rive, and what does it look like? [check this story]
- Zurich (Switzerland) – It will be at Bahnhofstrasse 77, but is there any construction underway? [No.]
- Carousel de Louvre (Paris) – It’s inside the underground shopping center adjacent to the Louvre Museum, but is any construction underway? [No.]
- West 34th Street (NYC) – Is it still leased by Apple or not?
- NW 23rd Street (Portland, OR) – Is this still an Apple project or not?
- Beijing (China) – Apple has confirmed a store, I know that the primary site on Qianmen Street won’t be ready for the Olympics, so they’re opening a temporary store in the Sanlitun district. What’s happening to both of these sites–any construction?
- Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace (Las Vega) – What specific space, and will it be two-stories? [Mystery solved--see a photo here.]
- State Street (Santa Barbara, CA) – Any construction for this street-level store? Any permits?
- Brooklyn (NYC) – Where is Williamsburg will the store be located?
- Paris (France) – OK, beyond the Louvre store, has Apple landed in another space along the Champs Elysees or in the Opera District?
- State Street (Chicago) – What’s up with 108 N. State Street and a possible Apple store. Real or not? [Unknown, but the project itself is under construction and behind schedule.]
- Philadelphia (PA) – Will there be a store downtown, possibly somewhere around the 1800 block of Walnut Street?
- Berlin (Germany) – Long-rumored but not action. What’s happening?
- Japan – There hasn’t been a new Japan store since Sapporo in June, 2006. Will there be another store this year or next?
- Edinburgh (Scotland) – Just confirmed, but where’s the space?
- Sainte-Catherine Street (Montreal) – What’s happening and when will it open? [Under construction, and possibly mid-summer opening.]
- Mexico – Yes or no? Any chance of a Mexico City store as rumored?
- Calgary (Canada) – What happened to this project? Will it ever come to pass? [A pillar couldn't be removed from the space Apple wanted at the Chinook Center, so they moved the future store to the Market Center.]
- South America – What’s the strategy for this continent? Will stores arrive here before Africa?
- What did I forget to ask–tell me!
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I can speak to the Calgary store, being a huge Mac fan and living here in Cowtown….
The store had been planned to go into Chinook Centre mall in the city’s southwest. The location that had come up was adjacent to an outdoor entrance, and is now where Sephora is located.
I’ve spoken with a few mall workers and all relate the story that Apple wanted a pillar removed as part of the lease agreement. Because this was a load-bearing structure, the mall’s management could not / would not comply, so Apple let the location go.
Chinook mall is planning a very large addition, and local rumors have Apple securing a choice location in the addition. Sadly, it’s not due to be complete until the summer of 2010.
Here’s a local news story about the mall’s expansion plans:
http://tinyurl.com/623rnj
Apple isn’t mentioned, which isn’t surprising given their reputation for secrecy with respect to future plans.
Hope that helps!
Raj
Also, with respect to the Paris Carousel du Louvre location, we were recently in Paris for a week (April 9-17), and walked through the Carousel du Louvre a few times.
There didn’t seem to be a vacant storefront, nor any construction, although we could have just missed it.
Raj
The proper name for the potential new Apple Store in Chicago’s Loop is 108 NORTH State. The direction is important because 108 South State is just a few blocks away.
As for updates, it was mentioned in the Sun-Times just a couple of weeks ago that an Apple Store at Block 37 (the other name for 108 North State) is still a realistic possibility.
I sent a letter to George Blankenship of Apple on April 8th about a great location for a Santa Cruz, CA store, but no response yet!
Idaho, Idaho, Idaho. No one thinks about us but there is a dedicated Apple fan-base here and the nearest Apple retail store is in Salt Lake City, UT.
Boise, as far as I’ve heard, is the most isolated (micro)metropolitan city in the country with all other comparable-sized cities being at least 5 hours away. Perhaps there might be an issue with Boise being a home for Micron technology and HP’s printer division.
A previous posting suggested that Idaho and Montana are places that have been scouted by Apple. I hope those scouting trips come to fruition. There is even a call center that handles the majority of Apple Care calls in the US!! Hear me Steve Jobs. Hear me Ron Johnson.
I really want to know whats happening about the rumored store at Covent Garden (London)..
I wish I still worked for Apple :(
What about the Greensboro, NC store? I’m looking forward to the opening – tired of driving 1.5 hours to either Charlotte or Raleigh.
I live nearby, so could scout if needed…
The Sainte-Catherine Street (Montreal) is still under construction, still covered in a black box, they are renovating the entire store that was there before Apple came (MENS). Anyways my estimates is that it should open in the summer to catch the busy time period.
As for actual updates on the 108 North State store, the exterior of the retail is almost done with most of the glass and siding installed, but the interior is still completely empty minus HVAC and fireproofed beams. The whole project is severely behind schedule as the CBS studio there was suppose to open sometime in 2007 and it’s now 4 months into 2008. Also, there was some sort of work stoppage over wages and the retail section has changed hands from the Mills Corp. (original developers) to Joseph Freed and Associates. Lastly, I still haven’t heard of a single confirmed tenant for it, much less Apple.
-Brian
Any news on the store set to go in on Wisconsin Ave in Washington DC, where the French Connection is currently located?
Ste-Catherine street in Montreal: lighting is installed, they will probably build the display (hidden by the black box) pretty soon.
Zurich Store at Bahnhofstrasse 77: At this time there is NO construction underway. Benetton is still selling its old stuff and I think they will be closing in a few weeks.
And there was rumor in a Swiss Newspaper about a second Apple Store just across the border of Zurich, in Wallisellen. It’s actually the shopping mall with the highest revenue in Switzerland. The old shop closed three weeks ago and I’ll stop by for a visit some time this week to keep you updated.
More on Calgary.
For sometime the known location at Chinook is where the strippers now shop, BEBE. It was posted sometime ago that a local Apple dealer had mentioned that the lease terms simply couldn’t be finalized. Not at all sure it was because of a post that couldn’t be moved. Sephora is likely pissed that they are in the spot they are in as that is where the latest expansion starts.
Some good news is that Market Mall is the next location and is confirmed by the Apple site. Market Mall and Chinook have the same owners, and many like MM over Chinook.
It will just be nice to have a company store in Calgary.
Regarding store on St-Catherine in Montreal, it is indeed still covered in a black box as noted by other commenters. Front of the box has sajo.com on it, which, if you visit the “completed projects gallery” on this site, lists Apple (though under-intensified since it’s obviously not completed.)
RE: Santa Barbara
As of May 26th construction has not started. The store is totally empty and windows are not blocked (you can see in). The old sign that stated the place was still available for lease is gone.
Montreal Apple Store (Boutique Apple Montréal) : the store front is about to be revealed, and the “Apple” has been inserted in the 2-story high glass facade.
(see this photo : http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j172/cprail/MacEtMoi/photo2.jpg).
I have a feeling that the press release is coming soon, announcing the opening for either July 26 or August 2 (the latter being more realistic).
This will be Apple’s flagship store in Canada, and the location is very well chosen – downtown West, where luxury brands reign (mostly).
The vacant storefronts along the 1800 block of Walnut Street in Philadelphia are now occupied and have been for a year or so. Cherry Hill, KOP and Ardmore remain the only Apple Store locations in the Philadelphia area – none downtown or in University City.
Yet another ideal location on Walnut Street in the country’s third most populous downtown – Center City, Philadelphia (in the 6th largest city in the country) has opened.
Will that get replaced with another luxury clothing store before Apple grabs it? They’ve let several go, and we still have no downtown store. Amazing.
The TD Bank has moved out around 16th on Walnut (having merged with Commerce Bank), and the huge, two-story-wide space in prime shopping area could be yet another possibility for a large downtown store with a glass front. Considering all you see is Macs downtown here with all the educational institutions, it’s amazing no Apple Store yet exists here…..
what does that mean…the tick next to the question asked about the mexico store…is it a yes or a no???
Cadillac Fairview, the owner of Market Mall and Chinook Centre here in Calgary, just announced a 5,000 sq.ft. Apple store in their mall expansion which is nearing completion.