Apple’s big glass cube set to light up Fifth Avenue soon

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Fifth Ave store
Angela Ahrendts giving a sneak peek of the new Fifth Ave store.
Photo: Apple

The most iconic Apple store in the world is finally getting ready to reopen its doors.

Apple’s glass cube store on Fifth Avenue in New York City has been temporarily closed for over two years, but according to the property company Apple leases the land from, construction on the store’s expansion is nearly done.

Tourists have flocked to Apple’s giant glass cube store entrance on Fifth Ave since it opened in 2006 making it one of New York’s most popular destination. The entire store is underground. Apple closed it in 2017 to double the size of the retail space. The company has been slinging iPhones and Macs at a nearby retail space, but it’s preparing to move back to the updated store.

“We are working very hard with Apple on the Apple Store, and we don’t have a date, but certainly that date will be sometime in the first half of this year,” said John Powers, CEO of Boston Properties.

Angela Ahrents, Apple’s retail boss, said at an iPhone event in 2017 that the store would open by the end of 2018. Apple missed that date but the redesign will make it worth it with more space product displays, a Genius Grove and sitting room for Today at Apple sessions.

Under Armour is itching for Apple to move into the redesigned cube more than anyone. Boston Properties says Under Armour wants to take over the temporary space Apple is occupying. Their store’s launch has been delayed by Apple though.

Apple hasn’t announced an official opening date of the remodeled Fifth Ave store. It’s rumored that the company may host an event in March to unveil new iPads, so maybe we’ll get some news about it then.

 

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