Comments on: Speculation Ends, Three Stores Confirmed

By: Afsheen

Afsheen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:50:17 +0000

It looks like The Grove Apple Store is within the blackout zone boundary, as well. (And the store on the 3rd Street Promenade, in Santa Monica.)

I understand that point that you’re making – that the 909 area code, South Central LA, and beach communities south of Santa Monica and north of Newport Beach have all been ignored by Apple – but the map seems a little extreme, and to imply that Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Santa Monica are in an Apple store “black-out zone” diminishes the credibility of an otherwise good point.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:54:38 +0000

The map is not entirely correct — there’s an Apple Store in Manhattan Beach, in the mall next to a Fry’s Electronics store.

That said, while I can understand Apple not wanting to put a store in lower-income areas such as El Monte or Lynwood, I’m a little confused why they don’t have one in the South Bay (Torrance/Rancho Palos Verdes) region. RPV in particular has a high median income that’s a perfect Apple demographic; either the Peninsula Shopping Center or the Del Amo Fashion Center could easily host an Apple Store.

–R.J.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:46:47 +0000

Still awaiting the announced-several-years-ago store in Little Rock, Arkansas. Been to the Mall it was planned for and everything is open. Apple needs to re-think the location; fine, but get it open.

By: The Other Gary

The Other Gary — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:09:51 +0000

Still, as I have pointed out for the past several years, northern Lake County in Illinois continues to be overlooked. There is a mall in Vernon Hills (Westfield Hawthorn) that would be prime for it. I’m sick of driving from Gurnee to Northbrook or Deer Park. This is an area of Chicagoland that is constantly being ignored and would benefit greatly from a store. I just don’t understand Apple’s retail thinking in this case.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:42:21 +0000

Could the post author elaborate on how the black-out zone was drawn on the map above? There are stores in Pasadena, Brea, and Rancho Cucamonga, which should make the zone much smaller I imagine. [IFO - The map was drawn using the stores you mentioned as the outside boundaries. I think accuracy is less of the issue than why Apple hasn't located any stores within the black-out zone. It's pretty obvious to me they were avoiding it.]

Perhaps a better way to draw the map would be to draw circles around the store locations where the circles represent a 30-minute drive radius or something along those lines. This would illustrate the black-out zone much more clearly.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:42:19 +0000

I'm in Northern Orange County and will have three Apple Stores within 20 miles of me. That's okay. I'll still stick with MicroCenter. They have a lot more Mac software than the Apple Stores, which have thrown out most of their Mac software for iPod accessories.

By: Shanti

Shanti — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:33:08 +0000

Nice to see that black hole filled soon. My parents were stuck between the Manh Bch and S. Coast Plaza stores in Belmont Shore.

Btw, Gary, there’s no such thing as a “mini” black out zone in LA. Unless you’re driving between 10pm-5am or it’s walking distance, forget it. ;)