Five Apple Stores to Visit Before You Die
2:01 pm, July 22nd, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
As Apple ponders a makeover of some of its stores — the first international remodel is underway in Bluewater (UK) — it’s a good time to consider which of the over 250 retail outlets are worth making a pilgrimage to, or a slight detour if something goes awry while you’re on the road.
The top five must-see Apple stores, as per travel site Jaunted, are London, Tokyo, Sydney, New York — and Scottsdale.
What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.
Pics and nominations after the jump.
Photo: kamoda. Used with a CC-license from flckr.
Tokyo
Five full floors of Apple products in the bustling Ginza district, this store has been popular since it opened doors in 2003 when it had the longest waiting line (1,982 people) for any Apple grand opening.
My personal traveler fantasy: to be there on New Year’s Day and participate in the lucky bag tradition by waiting in line to buy an Apple “mystery bag.”
Sydney
Apple store in Sydney. Photo: shaondiwaka. Used with a CC-license from flckr.
Apple’s 215th retail store opened up down under about a year ago. The George Street store has the longest Genius bar — smarted up with a staff of 20 — and the facade is graced by the largest Apple logo in the world.
Scottsdale
Scottsdale's aquarium-like store. Photo: Apple.
An Oasis in the desert, this recently-opened Arizona store goes for aquarium-like simplicity with matching glass floor-to-ceiling front and back that will influence the architecture of future Apple stores. The windows are about 20-feet high, topped by a 75-foot skylight. From the pic, I half understand the nomination, but not sure if it’s worth making a special trip to.
London Regent Street
Royal treatment: Apple's London store. Photo: Apple.
The facade of the London store has a nice mix of old-world meets new technology, fitting for a property still owned by the crown. The Regent street outlet is Apple’s largest outlet (28,000 sq. feet) and boasts plenty of gear, but the real draw may be the ongoing events — from in-store concerts (Demi Lovato)Â to a meet-the-author series (Stephen Fry) it’s worth taking a gander at the schedule beforehand.
New York (Fifth Avenue Store)
The Fifth Ave. store by night. Photo: sultancillo, used with a CC license on flickr.
Although Manhattan has the highest Apple-store density of any city in the world — three stores within 3.1 miles — the 5th Avenue location is a favorite for late-night browsers and early morning rescues: it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In keeping with its posh neighbors, Fifth Ave locale was one of Apple’s priciest stores costing over $10 million, including demolition, store and glass cube.
Which Apple stores do you think are must-sees?
Via Jaunted
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in Cult of Mac, Retail Stores | Comment on this article
New remodel in Brighton? Bluewater is nowhere near Brighton. Bluewater is just outside of London; Brighton is on the south coast of England.
Maddie, on July 22nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
So far
London Check
Sydney Check
2 more continents to go
Graham Parker, on July 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
So far
London Check
Sydney Check
2 more continents to go
Graham Parker, on July 22nd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I was just at the Apple Company store on the Cupertino campus this week; it wasn’t as pretty as any other Apple store I’ve been to, but it did have the “I’ve visited the Mothership” shirts that you can’t get anywhere else, plus, when I asked the cashier if there was anything else open to the public on campus, she told me security keeps everyone out of all the other buildings, giving it a sort of mysterious feeling.
If you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit even if its only to check out the Apple clothing you can’t get anywhere else.
Brian, on July 22nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
i just recently moved to the phoenix area from denver and the first thing i did when i got here was go to the scottsdale store. its absolutely gorgeous and coming from denver where all of the stores are mediocre, it was the greatest thing i have ever laid eyes upon. hopefully they will build one closer to my home in fountain hills.
andrew, on July 22nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
maddie — some sort of bizarre typo/brain meltdown. Fixed now.
Nicole Martinelli, on July 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Been to the Scottsdale one… don’t bother.
The “natural lighting” just means the air conditioning can’t keep up with the visitors… a fatal mistake in Arizona.
Gridman, on July 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm
New York…check….southlake Tx check! Oh wait!! That wasn’t on the list….looks like I’m gonna have 2 jump out of a building now, just lie re dude who lost the sacred iPhone o_O
Eric, on July 22nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Apple Store in Downtown Boston (Boylston St.) is very nice.
John H., on July 22nd, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Sydney for sure. A beautiful facade and slick interior that has livened up a dull part of the town! Always busy – don’t miss the glass stairs at the back!
Colin C, on July 22nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
[...] er tatt fra Cult of mac) « Haikere [...]
Pilegrim « geir, on July 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 am
Just a clarification – the Regent Street premises are owned by The Crown, not the monarchy, there’s a difference…
So far I’ve been to Apple Stores in New York (Fifth Avenue and Soho), Dallas, London and Glasgow…
I’ve also been to wannabe-but-not-really Apple Stores in Amsterdam, Shanghai and Beijing.
Jonathan, on July 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 am
I wish Atlanta area would get a standalone Apple Store, or at least one not in the malls. I hate having to go to the mall sometimes just to go to the Apple Store.
SimpleLeap Software, on July 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 am
The only one I want to visit is the one in New York on Fifth Ave. Mostly because that is what I picture when I think “Apple Store.” A big cube of glass. Beauty.
nthn, on July 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
mmm been to the one in NY, and i live in Scottsdale and was throughly excited when that one opened up. and it IS awesome, though right now ridiculously hot. been to an apple store in Tokyo too, but not the Ginza one, must make a note next time i am there~ apple knows good design
Rhiannon, on July 24th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
By coincidence I came across the Sydney store on George Street during a visit Down Under a month or so ago. It’s no big whoop. The store was crowded, but I saw nothing really special about it or its contents. And if you need help from an Apple Genius, you’ll almost always find more knowledgeable people chatting on-line in the Apple Support Discussion Forums than you will in the stores.
Baba Ganoush, on July 25th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I have not seen the Scottsdale Quarter store. Gilbert should have been the lesson that you do not have glass facing west in Arizona!
Paul Murray, on July 25th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Going to Regent St store tomorrow. The smallest one I’ve seen was in Wanchai, Hong Kong. It was about as wide as a truck.
Doctor Love, on July 28th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
although I drooled at the opportunity to visit the NYC 5th Ave store (three computers and counting) my visit to SOHO this year was really nice. The theatre style training area, luxurious seats, each equipped with power to feed your click along with the presentations brought be back for lectures on software I don’t even own or ever plan to own. Shopping in all the stores is . . . well, shopping. Selection is cool
My recent stop was the real store in Beijing, two visits while I waited for the nearby US embassy to process my passport renewals. Fun to while away some time, but service is not up to speed yet. my MBpro still has a cracked screen.
so now i need to plan on hitting some stops fr the others… Japan isn’t too far away from Yantai, and i have friends in Scottsdale when we go home for the winter holiday . .. maybe we’ll check it out
cg
Charlie George, on July 31st, 2009 at 4:58 am
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