Apple Store - Oracle, Reading - When?

[hogmog]

According to the jobs pages on Apple new stores seem to be popping up all over the UK. One will be located in the Oracle in Reading, a mere short train ride away - anybody any ideas on when it will open? Whilst the Regent's store is fab it is the lousy journey in between that means visits are few and far between. It might also encourage me to go shopping in Reading again.

[xUKHCx]

Right on the door step of Microsoft UK's (Europes?) headquarters.

[Blue Velvet]

Before end of 2007 according to a couple of pages I googled, but Apple won't officially announce the store until a week or so before opening. The betting is, is that many stores will open to catch the iPhone and Xmas rush... mid-October to early November, perhaps?

[Hydramus]

Cool, i haven't heard about this before and I live in Reading! No need to travel to London to visit an Apple store.

[superleccy]

Was in the Reading (pronounced "Redding", for all you non-brits) Oracle the other day. There's no apple store there yet.

There is, however, a neatly boarded-up unit with "no peeking, we're not finished" written on it. It's been like that for several months.

I hope it opens there, simply because it's opposite Currys.Digital. (The 1980s Jasper Carrot routine where he's asking the saleboy in Currys if he can microwave pigeons in his Sony Walkman is still relevant today).

SL

[JezzaA]

The job position has been taken of the Apple website now. I applied for a job back in June time when it was first mentioned.
They had a lease signed for in the Oracle where La-Zenza is placed as the lease was up and it was said they had plans to move onto the high street. Shame that never happened!

The place where "superleccy" is referring to is to much of a small space for a apple store.

There has been Rumors of there could be a lease for apple in the new shopping center Chatham Place that is being built in Reading just Oxford Rd. Thats as far as i know and i have been trying to follow this for ages.

JezzaA

[superleccy]

JezzaA - cheers, makes sense.

Oh well. I'll just have to get my Apple fix (along with my underwear) from John Lewis.

Sweeney & Todd (http://www.readingrestaurants.com/sweeney_todd/) and The Hop Leaf (http://www.readingpubs.co.uk/pubs/showpub.asp?pub=Hop+Leaf&postcode=RG1+2QZ) are the only other reasons to visit Reading. Who needs an Apple Store when you've got pie & ale?

SL

[JezzaA]

Just a update to Apple Store in Reading. Apple have now got the property lease for the two stores that are currently Envy and Dolcis that are next to each other in front of Starbucks.

Dolcis and Envy that use to be a part of Bay Trading were sold about a year back but have taken a turn for the worse now are closing down. (Dolcis is now closed) just waiting for Envy to close.

There is no word to when Apple will open in Reading as there will be alot of work needing to be done.

I will try update as much as know when I know,

I haven't checked Apple website yet to see if they are advertising for jobs.

[superleccy]

Wow - great news, thank you!

SL

[leon44]

Just checked the job site and you can apply for future openings at the Oracle, I applied (I'm at uni there) :D
Theres no other information to be found online though :/

[OilOfAJ]

Its been announced to open in June this year (2011), it's about time too, fed up travelling a couple of hours to my nearest store to rectify any issues... Thank You Apple

[gurmon]

Its been announced to open in June this year (2011), it's about time too, fed up travelling a couple of hours to my nearest store to rectify any issues... Thank You Apple

You dont need to travel a couple of hours into Regent street. there has been a Apple Service Provider in reading for 4 years already.

[leon44]

Yay, can't wait for June! (http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2085673_apple_store_for_reading)

[leon44]

bump

[BushyRS]

So it's June, any news?

[White Gold]

They have just put the apple logo and webpage url up on the black wooden extension they use to cover the front.

It can't be long now, and i have been told it could be in the next 7-10days.

Can anyone guess on a timeline to opening day?

[leon44]

I did a tweet about it, little photo there:

https://twitter.com/leon44/status/77692623934066688

I'm guessing they'd tell the local newspapers about a week in advance right? that's what it was like for the one in the Metrocentre
Wont be long!

[The Dwarf]

Mail sent out from Apple to-day:

--
Our place is your place.

The Apple Store, The Oracle, opens its doors on 25 June at 9:30am.

Come to the new Apple Store, The Oracle, and bring your curiosity. It's the best place to get your hands on the new iPad 2, learn all about Mac, get set up with an iPhone 4 - even get advice for your business. When you get to the store, find a Specialist in a blue shirt - your guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to checking out instantly. And if you're one of the first 1,500 customers, you'll get a free commemorative T-shirt.*

--

[cambookpro]

Mail sent out from Apple to-day:

--
Our place is your place.

The Apple Store, The Oracle, opens its doors on 25 June at 9:30am.

Come to the new Apple Store, The Oracle, and bring your curiosity. It's the best place to get your hands on the new iPad 2, learn all about Mac, get set up with an iPhone 4 - even get advice for your business. When you get to the store, find a Specialist in a blue shirt - your guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to checking out instantly. And if you're one of the first 1,500 customers, you'll get a free commemorative T-shirt.*

--

Just got one of these too - :D :D
Oracle is a 10min drive from where I live - thank God I don't have to go to White City every time my iPhone/iPod/MacBook/iPad goes wrong!

[Blue11]

Just got one of these too - :D :D
Oracle is a 10min drive from where I live - thank God I don't have to go to White City every time my iPhone/iPod/MacBook/iPad goes wrong!

Hey

What time do you think we should get there for in order to get a t shirt.. I live about an hour away but im willing to drive :cool:

[cambookpro]

Hey

What time do you think we should get there for in order to get a t shirt.. I live about an hour away but im willing to drive :cool:

I don't know - and I can't go because I'm going to London Zoo :(
I'd say get there for 8:30 for a guaranteed t-shirt, can't imagine more than 1.5k of people there at that time on a Saturday.

[leon44]

I called the Oracle earlier today, they open the doors at 6am Saturday morning to start queuing inside, she said you may queue overnight from the back entrance where HMV and all the bus stops are (not that I'm going to haha).
Thinking of getting there for 8.30 ish.

[sportsnapper]

Been there, got the T-shirt!

Arrived around 1010, and the q was around the top floor of the oracle. Time passed quite quickly, and we go in at 1045ish. Loads of T-shirts left. Loads of really friendly staff!

[neiltc13]

Did you buy anything?

[cambookpro]

Been there, got the T-shirt!

Arrived around 1010, and the q was around the top floor of the oracle. Time passed quite quickly, and we go in at 1045ish. Loads of T-shirts left. Loads of really friendly staff!

What does the shirt look like?
Ironically, was in London where I usually go to an Apple Store today, so missed my free shirt :(

I'm guessing there's none left for tomorrow.

[sportsnapper]

Hi guys,

No - I didn't buy anything. My bank account is still recovering from the new macbook a few weeks ago :)

Picture of the T-shirt, and the rather wonderful box in which it came packaged in is attached. I'm not sure the logo will survive more than a few washes.

Sorry for the delay - I was back in there yesterday. My iPad had a problem with the aluminium bezel, so after contacting the online apple store help, they made an appointment for me at the Genius bar. Very helpful guy there replaced the iPad. That took about 30 mins, and then I spent another hour in their nice air-con restoring my old backup - which I must say wasn't as easy as I expected....

There were lots of people in the store, more than I would have expected on a Monday.

[cambookpro]

Hi guys,

No - I didn't buy anything. My bank account is still recovering from the new macbook a few weeks ago :)

Picture of the T-shirt, and the rather wonderful box in which it came packaged in is attached. I'm not sure the logo will survive more than a few washes.

Sorry for the delay - I was back in there yesterday. My iPad had a problem with the aluminium bezel, so after contacting the online apple store help, they made an appointment for me at the Genius bar. Very helpful guy there replaced the iPad. That took about 30 mins, and then I spent another hour in their nice air-con restoring my old backup - which I must say wasn't as easy as I expected....

There were lots of people in the store, more than I would have expected on a Monday.

Well, it doesn't look like I missed much apparel wise!
Was hoping for something a little more imaginative than that. Still quite a cool collectors item though.