Although the Apple stores are endowed with award-winning architecture, the stores’ wood, glass, stone and stainless steel present special challenges when it comes time for cleaning—an obsession when a store holds its grand opening. Anyone who has attended a store opening has noticed the extent to which Apple will make sure there are no fingerprints, [...]

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A series of support columns within the space occupied by the the Apple store at the Chapelfield (UK) Shopping Centre forced Apple’s architect to create a very unique feature—a large wall at the front-center of the store, with two large-screen video displays on either side. It’s the only store in the chain with such a feature. [...]

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Visitors to the Keystone Crossing retail store in Indianapolis may walk right by the corner location, after a remodel made a dramatic change in the storefront—the imposing black metal siding and back-lit logo are gone, replaced with an expansive display window and shiny stainless steel. The make-over is part of an on-going series of store [...]

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The Apple store territory in England will push further north when the Eldon Square (Newcastle on Tyne) store holds its grand opening next year. The future location continues the company’s stated goal of having a store within the center of every major city in the UK. In this case, the Apple store will be on [...]

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Visitors to the Pacific Centre (Vancouver, BC), King Street (Charleston, SC) and Kahala (Honolulu) retail stores have been met with signs indicating the relatively-new stores will be closed later this month for “renovations.” Both closures have sparked speculation on what changes could possibly be made to the all-stainless steel interiors. The Pacific Centre store is on [...]

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Faced with a world-wide economic downturn and the risk of fewer shoppers, Apple converted its retail store roll-out plans in the United States to increased heat under its on-going remodeling project. Over 55 stores have been remodeled so far, mostly those constructed before 2003, converting the older-style interior to wood furniture and stainless steel walls, [...]

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The grand opening this Saturday of the United Kingdom’s 22nd Apple store in Norwich will improve the island’s coverage in the east, where Apple buyers previously had to drive 90 minutes to reach the nearest store in Cambridge. The Chapelfield store is inside the shopping center with 99 shops, steps away from city center. The [...]

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Apple will hold a triple Canada—United States grand opening this Saturday as stores in Temecula (S. Calif.), Vancouver (BC) and suburban Montreal (QC) throw open their doors. The store at the Promenade at Temecula is located in an expansion area of the mall along Interstate 15 between San Diego and Los Angeles. The store will [...]

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The future Broadway (NYC) retail now under construction at the angled intersection with 67th Street will feature unique architectural designs that will put it in competition for the most spectacular store in the chain. The steel-framed building has risen from the near-total demolition of a former two-level Victoria’s Secret store, with but a single wall [...]

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Apple’s retail stores carry the company’s brand and culture around the world, but really, each location has its own personality based largely on the management staff. Now, staffers at the Alderwood Mall (Wash.) retail store say their complaints about “abusive” management and possible state and federal labor law violations at the store have been ignored [...]

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To provide more space and organization for the process of in-store iPhone purchases, the Apple stores are setting aside a section of wall display space called the “iPhone Activation Zone.” As first reported by MacRumors last week, the space at most stores will be at the right-front, adjacent to the iPhone display tables, and will [...]

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As part of its continuing emphasis on new international stores, Apple announced that the Polo Park (Winnipeg, Man.) retail store will open this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The store is the 12th to open in the country, and the very first to occupy the province of Manitobe and mid-Canada. Apple executives have previously said that [...]

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The grand opening of Apple’s Carosello (Milan, Italy) generated overnighter-level enthusiasm from Macintosh, iPod and iPhone users from all across Europe, and also coverage from the continent’s Apple-focused Web sites. The setteB.IT Web site began covering the new store since the location was first identified earlier this year. The site posted construction photos back in [...]

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After a two-month construction delay reportedly caused by a shipment of stainless steel from Japan, the Augusta (Geo.) retail store will open this Saturday at 10 a.m. The mall occupies a key location near the intersection of two interstate highways, and the Apple store is in a new outdoor expansion space. It will be the [...]

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The city of Hong Kong is the most obvious omission among Apple’s retail initiative, as the city is at top of international retailing, technology and tourism. But as with every other city, finding the perfect location has been difficult. The city is divided into two major regions separated by a harbor, and within those regions [...]

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