Each year Money Magazine ranks the “best places to live” in the United States, and this year’s #3 city is Naperville (Ill.), a community about 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago. Now Apple will add to the city’s liveability by locating a store there, probably at the former Sharper Image store in the tiny Main Place strip mall at 120 Jefferson Street just off Main Street. The store would round out coverage in the western metro Chicago area, which already has seven Apple stores. The store will open some time in early 2009.
E-mail this story
Related posts:
Loading ...
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Naperville, that surprised me. I mean I’ve heard of their consistently high rankings (this was not the first year they’ve ben near the top of Best Places to Live) but it’s such a niche market. Their downtown is nice, but SO MANY restaurants, that’s the only reason to go there, not for the shopping. I’m still surprised they didn’t go into the Promenade at Bolingbrook, but meh, whateves. Good for you Naperville.
-Brian
I’m still waiting for one in Vernon Hills. If that happens, I’ll be the first to apply for a job.
Jess, Northbrook isn’t that far from Vernon Hills. I can all but guarantee you that they’ll never put an Apple Store in Hawthorn :)
Here’s to hoping the new “upscale” mall, pattered after Deerpark, ohn the old Lake County fair grounds gets one!
Just learned about the Naperville location. This is excellent news!
I used to live just a few minutes walk from the Glendale store in Wisconsin and I was so bummed when I moved to Naperville to lose easy access to an Apple store.
Oakbrook is the closest but with the traffic in that area and the fact that Oakbrook is such a crummy mall, I have no desire to go that direction. Naperville will be so much more convenient, and don’t forget that Naperville serves a huge, growing and affluent retail demographic.
Frankly I was surprised that they weren’t here sooner.
I knew it. I knew it. I predicted this as soon as Sharper image closed. I live so close, and now I may be moving… to practically north and Clybourn. Hahaha
So any locals have a status update? This article says “early 2009″ and May to me is certainly mid 2009. I’m really interested on any possible opening dates. Any guesses or construction photos?
-Brian
If it’s actually going into 120 Jefferson, it won’t be anytime soon. Check out the picture I took today, still wide open to the elements
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l219/YSR50/photojpg.jpg
Today’s news is loaded with stories about the Apple Store coming to Naperville. The most reliable say they’re looking forward to a mid-August opening.
If I’m correct, this store would overshadow what’s currently going on in two other locations (Oak Brook and Orland are both mall locations on a single floor). The space in Naperville would occupy two floors.
from the picture I posted it’s looking to only be one floor
It’s not a strip mall. The retail area is a row of stores that face Jefferson Street with a sidewalk in front. “Strip mall” refers to ugly strips of retail stores with large parking lots in front and adjacent to major arterials. That doesn’t describe the Naperville space.
I was looking at the construction yesterday while waiting for some business downtown. I would say that it is definitely only one floor. I walked around the back as well and it looks like they added about 40 feet more depth to the store. In the back there is enough room for two floors but I do not believe this to be retail space.
It looks like the exterior is close to being finished (just needs the exterior windows installed). I would think the exterior will be finished in the next couple of weeks. They are also working on the interior now. It was a hive of activity when I was watching it.
By my uneducated guess at store construction (though I did also witness the Bayshore store being built in Wisconsin) I would say that Mid to end August is about right.
Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me at the time.
Daily Herald is saying August.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=298455
Got an email from Apple today stating that the store opens on August 15th.
That sucks, I’m going to be out of town and I wanted a free T-shirt :(
The Apple Store, Main Place, opens its doors at 10:00 a.m., August 15.
Come to the new Apple Store, Main Place, and bring your curiosity. It’s the best place to learn all about the Mac, check out an iPod, and see all the amazing things an iPhone can do. And if you find something you like, take it home that day. When you get to the store, find our Concierge in the orange shirt. The Concierge is your guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to instant checkout. If you’re one of the first 1000 visitors, you’ll get a free Apple T-shirt.*