The University Village (Seattle) store is operating at half-size during construction that may involve more than just an interior design make-over. Like the Eaton Centre (Toronto) store, plywood walls were erected last week to allow construction workers access to the side walls, ceiling and rear wall of the existing store. But for this store, there have been persistent rumors that the work involves adding second-floor access to the store, either for retail space or storage. See photos after the jump.
Thanks to Ken for these photos of the downsized store.
You can tell that the the cut-down store is much narrower than the original store.
This shows how the storefront was left full-width, but that the walls have been pushed in by about 12 feet behind the display space.
With the store's usual visitor load, the store is crowded.
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I was in there a couple of weeks ago, when I was completing my purchase I asked the staff member when the renos are going to be completed and he said sometime in October.
Must be a fair bit of work if the renos are going to last that long.
When is there going to be a store in downtown Seattle? It’s easier to take the bus to Southcenter or Alderwood (fifteen miles from downtown) than it is to take a bus to University Village three miles away…
A friend reminded me that the store that was in U Village before Apple was a two story sporting goods store. We’d thought that the Apple store would also be two stories, but alas, it wasn’t. I wonder if dropping the ceiling is any indication of there being a second story expansion?
Can’t tell from the front, of course, so I’ll have to venture ’round back :)
The construction has been on going since before the July 4th weekend.
Downtown Seattle would be nice, but they also need one in Spokane, WA (the Spokane Valley Mall would be a logical place). In addition to the Eastern Washington college crowd (WSU, Gonzaga), it would service the high-growth areas in Idaho (Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and more).
I was just in Southcenter yesterday and, after looking at these pictures, you really do understand why they went out of their way on those ceilings in the Mini stores. That expanse of white really alleviates the feeling of being in a confined space that this “normal” overhead lighting has.