Construction crews are putting the finishing touches on a third underground Apple store, beneath a circular plaza at the International Finance Center (IFC) in Shanghai (China), and topped by a unique cylindrical glass entrance that may prove even more spectacular than the Fifth Avenue store glass cube. The plaza is at the base of two glass skyscrapers nearly 1,000 feet tall in the Lujiazui financial district of the city, one containing office space and the other a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, both designed by famous Argentine architect César Pelli. The complex also includes a six-story shopping mall with 1.1 million square-feet of retail space, luxury apartments and a major subway train station. The mall will include international retailers Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Cartier, Burberry and many others. Developer Sun Hung Kai bills the complex as the largest in the district, and part of Shanghai’s claim to be the world’s “new financial center.” Photos and a video posted by MacGeneration show the 40-foot tall glass entrance to the Apple store is now covered by dull-gray plastic. But a peek inside the cylinder shows a back-lit Apple logo suspended over a spiral glass staircase leading to the store below. It’s not clear how soon the store might open—the video shows landscape work begin performed around the entrance, but also construction materials still inside the entrance. Many of the main mall’s retailers opened on April 28th. Apple’s first underground store opened on Fifth Avenue (NYC) in May 2006 and features a glass cube entrance over the store, while the second store opened adjacent to the Louvre Museum in Paris last year.
Download (pdf) a brochure describing and promoting the IFC Mall.
The Apple store entrance is at the base of these towers, under the glass canopy shown on this rendering. It's not clear if the canopy will actually be installed.
This rendering shows the retail space at the base of the IFC towers. The Apple store will occupy a separate area underground.
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Did we know they were finally building a China store after how many years of Apple comments, analyst reports and rumors? It looks like it’ll be impressive for sure, but will it be open 24/7?
-Brian
This location doesn’t look like it will support 24/7, since for now the surrounding area is more office related than residential. However, more construction is underway, including serviced and luxury apartments (condos in U.S. terminology). So perhaps one day it will become 24 hours.
wouldn’t this be a 3rd underground location after fifth Ave and the Louvre?
Ah, good point! Somehow I didn’t recall the underground nature of the Louvre store. I’ve revised the story.
Well, you could also count Zurich and Upper West Side as well.. they both have family rooms on the lower level.
Ahhhh, good point. I was just aiming for the glass entrance stores.
In any case, I can’t wait to see photos of this store!
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