Seems like this has been going on forever, but if anyone's interested, here's the skinny on the Spanish Fort (Mobile metro), AL store.
I work at Hollister in Eastern Shore Centre, which just opened last week. I had the opportunity to speak with one of the members of mall management who came in our store while we were readying for its opening. I jokingly mentioned that it was too bad we didn't get that Apple store. She laughed, and told me that they had received more calls from curious shoppers about Apple than anything else.
Apple briefly expressed interest in the center, through a real estate agent, but decided to hold off for now. Despite a few large, "first-in-market" stores, there were a few that decided to hold off until the center has proved itself. That's largely due to the fact that it's away from the population center, in an area that is just beginning to develop quickly.
The center is only about 75% leased, and this is only phase I of a project that will eventually see ESC more than double in size in its latter two stages. So, while Apple has backed out for now, it certainly doesn't preclude them from hopping on board in the future.
At least knowing that Apple is aware of and interested in the area is nice in itself.