New Apple Store for Edinburgh, Scotland

[Silver Pegasus]

After many years of speculation where it was to be located on Princes Street, finally it seems the local council has 'outed' the new Apple store. It looks like they are set to be part of a £12 million Hotel / Retail development with the hotel (Motel One http://www.caterersearch.com/Article...urgh-hotel.htm) occupying the upper part of this stunning building and Apple occupying one, two or all of the retail units below.

10-15 Princes Street is at the east end of the street and is pretty much the busiest end shopping wise with two shopping 'malls' nearby, one away to be majorly redeveloped in a £850 million project (www.stjamesquarter.info)
The building is directly across from the prestigious Balmoral Hotel (www.thebalmoralhotel.com) and the new Waverley Train Station entrance 'Waverley Steps'. (www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6403.aspx)
Seems a great location with the castle in view.

This is what the Edinburgh council have listed in their traffic disruptions update. Second one down.
http://edinburgh.cdmf.info/public/disruptions/list.htm

This is the planning documents for the building/hotel.
https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov...=M2OADAEW09Z00

What it should look like finished.
https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov...05-1371780.pdf

What the building looks like today just after they have taken out the windows.
http://s14.postimage.org/w6a74h6rl/apple.jpg

Opening 2013 it seems.

[Kilamite]

Is this new news? It was rumoured Apple was moving into the old Burger King block a year or two ago.

From what I see, it is still a rumour. There's no documents saying Apple will be using that retail space (though it seems pretty obvious they are the most likely candidate).

Pretty crap location I think, but I guess there *may* be a tram stop there one day..

[anti-microsoft]

It seems ridiculous to me that they are taking this long to build an Apple Store in Edinburgh. Cancom has now shut down I think and there is no other place, to my knowledge, that is an Authorised Apple Retail Store.

The rumours about Apple moving in to that building in Princess Street have been going on since 2008/2009... I'm, personally, not sure what validity this news has any more. Apple probably considered it at some point and is now uninterested. That location is not exactly prime, I think Apple can do a lot better. There are great buildings and locations in Edinburgh that would suit Apple much better than the east end of Princess Street, a cold and shady spot.

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by anti-microsoft

That location is not exactly prime, I think Apple can do a lot better. There are great buildings and locations in Edinburgh that would suit Apple much better than the east end of Princess Street, a cold and shady spot.

Given that the council is looking at limiting Princes St traffic to purely just the trams (and continue having the buses etc going along George St), it would have made a location in the middle of Princes St quite appealing. Traffic will come down from St.Andrews Sq onto east end of Princes St and go right past the Apple Store. Pretty noisy location.

If Apple had gotten into the Urban Outfitters store first, that would have been a perfect location.

[Silver Pegasus]

It is news, as the other locations have long been speculated have dried up. This location was way down the list when new look, primark etc were being talked about as locations. You guys honestly think this is a bad location? It's the busiest end, the middle and west are dead.

I'd put a hefty bet it will be here and done before next summer.

What other beautiful buildings and locations are there? This feels right.

[anti-microsoft]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

If Apple had gotten into the Urban Outfitters store first, that would have been a perfect location.

I agree.

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by Silver Pegasus

You guys honestly think this is a bad location? It's the busiest end, the middle and west are dead.

Busiest end by what definition? It is busy because there is a lot of traffic, noise etc. But the nearby shops are hardly what you'd call up market retail shops and there isn't a lot of customers floating in them. Princes St in general is quiet because of the tram works, but once they are all finished, the east end will never be as busy as the main strip.

Not to mention that you usually have folk banging drums or doing a peace speech in the open space next to it.

Perhaps once it is all finished, with the finished Waverley station and Princes Mall, that part of Princes St will be nicer. Right now, and for the past few years, its just been a dump.

[Silver Pegasus]

It is on the thoroughfare near to the only large 'mall' in the city centre (which be even larger in 2-3 years), across from a small one and the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom! There is considerable footfall because of that. Once the trams are done and the normal traffic patterns restored this is great location to be in.

[GWIM2]

Originally Posted by Silver Pegasus

Once the trams are done ...

I'm hoping to retire in 2020, and may be able to take a photo of a tram outside this store by then.

Seriously - Apple - just build a store on Princes Street somewhere and get it done. I'll have to keep giving my money to the Aberdeen store till then.

[JohnnyKennedy]

Dropped by it a few days ago and thought I'd give you guys a progress update.

Image: http://i47.tinypic.com/5b2rr9.jpg

[neiltc13]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKennedy

Dropped by it a few days ago and thought I'd give you guys a progress update.

Image: http://i47.tinypic.com/5b2rr9.jpg

Did that shop on the corner used to be a Burger King?

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by neiltc13

Did that shop on the corner used to be a Burger King?

Yeah, was such a rank building during and after Burger King were done with it. Hope this restoration brings back the classical look.

[GWIM2]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKennedy

Dropped by it a few days ago and thought I'd give you guys a progress update.

Image: http://www.gwim2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/edh.jpg

Took another shot yesterday myself. That amount of structural steel to hold the facade means the interior must be almost completely gone. I had a look at the location too. Top of the Waverley Steps so a large percentage of the people coming to the centre of Edinburgh by train are going to walk straight into it.

[jtcedinburgh]

...that Apple had an official store in the capital. I personally think that that's a good spot - after all, you've got the best public transport there (Waverley just a minute away, and all the buses and what-not pass by). You also have the added benefit of being a corner location that doesn't have an immediate road (apart from the little access road) so Apple can do something smart on two elevations.

Finally, there's a decent little pub right behind - the Guildford Arms - where I have spent many happy drunken evenings on and off for the past 20 years(ish).

[JohnnyKennedy]

Over in Ireland at the minute, and won't be able to get a look at the store until August 28th. Any chance someone could get a quick snap?

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by JohnnyKennedy

Over in Ireland at the minute, and won't be able to get a look at the store until August 28th. Any chance someone could get a quick snap?

Walked past earlier today, just looks the same. Completely gutted out, the roof is probably needing quite a bit work.

[jjw1980]

Looks like a new AASP has opened on Queen Street, no retail but we are set for repairs again.

[niuniu]

City planning and development in Edinburgh is absolutely useless. Wouldn't hold your breath on this Apple store. Not unless it's already been in planning for 10 years, in which case they may get started soon.

Misery aside, really hope they do get an AS here pronto.

[anti-microsoft]

Originally Posted by jjw1980

Looks like a new AASP has opened on Queen Street, no retail but we are set for repairs again.

What's a AASP?

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by anti-microsoft

What's a AASP?

Authorised Apple Service Provider.

We've not had one since Cancom went.

[jjw1980]

Originally Posted by anti-microsoft

What's a AASP?

Apple Authorised Service Provider

[anti-microsoft]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

Authorised Apple Service Provider.

We've not had one since Cancom went.

Originally Posted by jjw1980

Apple Authorised Service Provider

Ah right! Thanks! I know... Cancom... What happend to them? It seems that, if they were the only Apple Reseller in Edinburgh and they went out of business, there maybe isn't such demand for an Apple Store as you would seem to think.

Oh, and what's this new AASP called? Haven't been to Edinburgh in a while

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by anti-microsoft

It seems that, if they were the only Apple Reseller in Edinburgh and they went out of business, there maybe isn't such demand for an Apple Store as you would seem to think.

They got bought over (http://www.cancomuk.com) and are called Tramscom.

Their store in Edinburgh was tiny, had a few things on display and that was it. Stock was always crap too.

[jjw1980]

Originally Posted by anti-microsoft

Ah right! Thanks! I know... Cancom... What happend to them? It seems that, if they were the only Apple Reseller in Edinburgh and they went out of business, there maybe isn't such demand for an Apple Store as you would seem to think.

Oh, and what's this new AASP called? Haven't been to Edinburgh in a while

looks like these guys have just opened an Edinburgh office

http://opalcs.co.uk/

[anti-microsoft]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

They got bought over (http://www.cancomuk.com) and are called Tramscom.

Their store in Edinburgh was tiny, had a few things on display and that was it. Stock was always crap too.

Yeah, you're right. They were pretty *****... Better than nothing though, eh!