Retail

Switzerland Apple Stores near completion

The Apple retail machine continues to move, this time across Switzerland, as three stores are nearly ready. ifoAppleStore reports that the store in Zurich’s Glattzentrum shopping mall should be in business any time now, and they’ve posted some tantalizing spy shots.

A second store is scheduled to open in Zurich on Bahnhofstrasse by year’s end. Job postings for these locations began to appear on Apple’s job board as early as last February.

Finally, a third store on Rue de Rive (Geneva) is scheduled to open later this month. [Read]

Popularity: 2% [?]

Leicester (UK) Apple Store to open Thursday

After several years of planning and waiting, the Highcross shopping center in Leicester (UK) is finally ready to go and with it the Highcross Apple Store.

Apple Store Highcross will open on Thursday, September 4th at 10:00 AM. The store is located at the Upper Mall. You can get full travel directions here.

As usual, we’re asking any Apple@CooOne operatives who visit this weekend to send us stories and photos. Good luck, have fun and we’re hoping you score a T-shirt! [Read]

Popularity: 2% [?]

MS and Vegas Apple Stores: Your reports

Apple opened two new Apple Stores last weekend — one in Ridgeland, Mississippi (that state’s first store) and another in sunny Las Vegas (Nevada’s fourth and the third in Vegas). As usual, we asked any Apple operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. Reader Dave took some nice shots in Mississippi.

So, did you go, and more importantly, what did you get? Let us know in the comments. Here’s hoping you scored a T-shirt!

In related news, there’s an interesting map at ifoAppleStore that overlays Apple Store locations with population density in the US. Of course it makes sense to put stores where the most people are, and that’s just what Apple has done. [Read]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Mississippi, Las Vegas Apple Stores set to open

Apple plans to open two new retail stores in the US this Saturday, August 30th. One in Ridgeland, Mississippi and another in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Apple Store Renaissance at Colony Park (Ridgeland) will open at 10:00 AM. The store is located at 1000 Highland Colony Parkway, next to Williams Sonoma and J Crew. You can find full travel directions here. This will be Mississippi’s first Apple Store.

Apple Store The Forum Shops will also open at 10:00 AM in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. You’ll find it at The Forum Shops At Caesars, at 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., South. Full travel directions are here. This will be Nevada’s fourth store, and the third in Sin City.

If you visit either store over the weekend, please let us know! We’d love to see your pictures and stories.

[Via ifoAppleStore]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Apple Store SoHo cited as a bad neighbor

Is Apple’s oldest NYC retail store causing agita for its well-heeled neighbors in SoHo? AFP and Dow Jones are reporting that the SoHo Alliance, an umbrella community organization, has complained to city officials and Apple execs about a litany of issues with the popular outlet. Crowds outside the store (sometimes overnight) have blocked streets and left trash behind, to the frustration of nearby residents.The recent Jonas Brothers in-store concert may have been the final indignity for alliance director Sean Sweeney. “This concert attracted thousands of young teenage girls who screamed incessantly on the street for hours for their idols, blocking traffic, injuring one resident in the crush, and inconveniencing scores of other people and businesses.”

I suppose there’s a price to pay for being busy and popular. Considering that the immediate vicinity of the store is home to scores of restaurants, bars and high-end boutiques, it’s surprising that Apple is the biggest quality-of-life offender in the area, but maybe it’s time for some of the bigger draws to move to the 14th Street store instead.

[CNN via Cult of Mac]

Popularity: 7% [?]