Former Theaters May Be a Future Apple Store

A tipster in Melbourne (Australia) claims to have seen an Apple retail store images pasted into renderings o two future retail complexes along Bourke Street in the city’s central business district. Specifically, the renderings–possibly speculative–show a planned renovation of the City Cinemas at 206 Bourke Street that has been empty since closing in early 2006, and another renovation at 140 Bourke Street, the former Hoyt Cinema Centre building. The five-story #206 space was sold to developer Lee Smith in May, 2007 for $27.3 million, and he intends to create 370,000 square-feet of ground-floor retail space, and 25,000 square-feet of upper-level office space. The #140 space was purchased by developer Drapac in 2004 for $12 million, and construction could begin soon after the original building was demolished. Both developments could be finished in 2009. The city’s CBD languished for several years, but began a comeback in 2006, led by the renovation of the historic Myer Emporium store. Apple already has plans to build a store inside the Chadstone Shopping Centre, and there have been rumors of a street-level store on Church Street in a new development.