In late 2006 construction began on an expansion of the Regent Street (London) store, and it was finished in March 2007. The changes consisted of at least:

• expand the second level 60 feet to the rear
• move the existing theater from the old rear of the second level, to the new rear
• create a four-table display space in the space of the former theater
• take out the second level, front POS and replace it with a second Creative Bar
• install an iPod Bar opposite the existing Genius Bar
• install a glass elevator in the middle of the space between the two bars. The elevator comes out at the rear of the ground floor.
• remove the ground floor POS from the rear wall, install two POS positions on the rear side walls

During the expansion, a public hallway was created on the left beyond the Genius Bar, which leads to what's labeled as a "Studio," but which consists of two classrooms with A-V gear, used for specialized instruction and training. The hallway also leads to public restrooms. The classrooms were there previously, but are now accessible from the store, while the restrooms were relocated.

I re-visited the store in early April 2007 and took these photos detailing the expansion changes. I should say I also noticed some giant dings in the top tread of the glass stairway, where glass had been chipped off. The ground floor display tables have turned very grimy and scratched. On a couple of tables the top layer was damaged, as if the lamination layer was pulled up by the adhesive used to attach products to the table.

And as many other have noticed (or complained), the store is filled with visitors who have no intention of buying, using or otherwise generating Apple revenue. During four visits over three days at various times of day, I never found a free downstairs computer upon walking in. The users were logged in to their e-mail accounts on Yahoo, Google, etc., or YouTube, MySpace or other Web sites. Most times there were one or two persons standing behind the computer users, hoping to be next. The computers upstairs were generally much more available, probably because Internet service at them was intermittant.

The all-glass elevator was installed through the floor in the space between the Genius Bar (left) and the iPod Bar (right). The elevator comes out within the rear wall of the ground floor. The former rear wall of the second level was at the location of the stainless steel pillars you can see beyond the elevator. The two bars are rather brightly lit, but the area in the center is somewhat darker. Also check this larger panorama.

The double-glass panels of the elevator are very large, about 8'9" wide by 11 feet tall. In
this view you can see down through the elevator shaft to the ground floor. You can barely
see a stainless steel post on the opposite side near the elevator doors, which has the call
button for the elevator.

Here is the elevator access on the ground floor of the store. The lines on both sides are for the POS counters.

Here is a view looking towards the front of the store, showing the large display table space created by the expansion. Behind the camera is the new theater. Beyond this room you can see the iPod Bar.

Here is the new 65-seat theater, with wooden seats and black-plush upholstery.

Some time since the store opening, Apple added a series of small incandescent lights set above
the historic tile mosaics over the arches of the storefront. The lights provide highlighting of the
brightly-painted tiles at night.