Apple seems to have a sentimental attachment to Minnesota, since the state will receive its fifth retail store early next year at the tiny Grand Place shopping development southwest of downtown St. Paul. Only 12 states have the privilege of having five or more Apple stores. The 26,000 square-foot mall includes Pottery Barn and J.Crew on the ground floor of a popular shopping street, and a two-level parking lot hidden behind a brick façade. The store will round out coverage of Apple stores that, up to now, have encircled Minneapolis, but have left St. Paul without a store.
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Woot! Minnesota’s first Apple Store that is not inside a mall. It would be great to see Lifestyle Centers such as Maple Grove’s Arbor Lakes, or Woodbury’s Woodbury Lakes get the Apple treatment as well.
Your article is mostly correct, but let me quibble. There is an Apple Store now in Rosedale Mall, which is in Roseville, a suburb of St. Paul. It maybe part of a ring around Minneapolis, but should really be considered a St. Paul store as much as the Mall of America (Bloomington), Ridgedale (Minnetonka), and Southdale (Edina) stores are considered Minneapolis stores. There is currently no store within the city limits of Minneapolis. This new one will be within the city limits of St. Paul.
Sentimental attachment. Or Ron Johnson is from Minnesota.
You decide.
I grew up a block from that location store.. a bit more detail.
It’s actually located on Grand Avenue, a large business district of St. Paul. Grand Place is one of a series of indoor and outdoor small malls that line that street (Milton Mall, Victoria Place, Victoria Crossing), as well as small boutiques in houses and other shops. (www.grandave.com)
It’s a very large space, and the building is only a few years old. It was built to hold a bookstore, which failed, and then Best Buy moved into that space and used it for a concept store called EQ Life that tried to merge technology and healthcare into one. EQ Life was notable in that they were a full Apple retailer including laptops, and iPods and accessories. Unfortunately, EQ Life failed, and the place has been vacant for the last year or so.
The location is actually much better then in downtown St. Paul - not many people live in downtown St. Paul, whereas that neighbourhood is one of the more affluent, family neighbourhoods. 3 colleges are within a mile - Macalaster College, University of St. Thomas, and William Mary College of Law.
It’s been a long time coming to have an Apple store on Grand Ave.
I miss Bound to Be Read…..NOT!
[...] on top of things, but somehow I totally missed this rumor…that there will - allegedly - be an Apple Store opening near my house. On St. Paul’s Grand Avenue specifically in early 2009. Next year is [...]
this is going to be a great place! a great neighborhood and several colleges near by. A benefit for me since I work at Stogies on Grand about a block away…
:>)