Apple Previews New Flagship Union Square Store in San Francisco

[MacRumors]

Apple today invited journalists to San Francisco to preview its new Union Square store, set to open this weekend. Dozens of images are being shared on Twitter and other social networks, giving us our first glimpse at the revamped store that's been under construction for more than two years.

As it shows off the new location to journalists, Apple has also published a press release outlining all of the new features in the store.

"Fifteen years ago today Apple opened its first two stores and we're thrilled to mark the occasion with the opening of Apple Union Square in San Francisco," said Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. "We are not just evolving our store design, but its purpose and greater role in the community as we educate and entertain visitors and serve our network of local entrepreneurs."

Inside the new Apple Store, via Shara Tibken​

The store features a next-generation design that's been adopted by other retail locations in Brussels and Memphis, with wide, open spaces, high ceilings, enormous windows, redesigned product display areas, and a 6K video screen that spans most of one wall. Unique to San Francisco is a set of massive 42-foot tall glass doors that slide open 40 feet to leave the front of the store open to the street.Click here to read rest of article...

Article Link: Apple Previews New Flagship Union Square Store in San Francisco

 

[DFZD]

They are more in highlight these days for store openings and gossip articles than they are for actual product launches. Are we living in a Post-Apple era?

 

[Gudi]

Completely steril Bauhaus architecture.

 

[justperry]

This is much better IMHO:

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

Apple forgets that clean and modern doesn't also mean boring.

 

[vincebio]

This is much better IMHO:

Yeah, thankfully this Apple store in Amsterdam is right on my doorstep and is one of the most beautiful they have done so far...if they THE. This new boring design ethos is worrying....Ive seems to have lost his mojo when you consider some of the very boring designs coming out of Cupertino...

 

[Dale Dangler]

For a flagship, this new store does come off a little stale and bland as opposed to many of the other Apple flagships around the world. This looks very familiar to the concept store Angela was showing off on Apple's 60 minutes interview. It's okay, just doesn't have that magical "wow" factor, much like how the products as of late have been at Apple.

 

[barkomatic]

It looks beautiful. There aren't many retailers that put as much emphasis on design of their spaces than Apple. I think that in years to come, some of the more original locations will become landmarked buildings when the inevitable happens and Apple contracts.

 

[B.K.]

Looks like a great place to be pointed to a web browser to place an order.

 

[leon44]

I'm just curious if the original Apple Store Union Square (in Aberdeen, UK) will keep the unionsquare@apple.com address...

 

[A MacBook lover]

The quality of the replies in this thread

 

[jedifaka]

Our climate is perfect for a 40 foot opening onto the street. But our crime problem isn't.
Turns out the easiest way to loot high end retail is en masse. A huge door sounds perfect for a really big theft.
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Brazen-thefts-by-Rainbow-Girls-at-high-end-5941850.php
It's always been true, but it's startling when crooks realize the power they have to overwhelm store security and law enforcement combined.

 

[B.K.]

There are 5 "new" things in the store.
Genius Grove - Genius Bar
The Forum - Theater
The Avenue - Shelf
The Boardroom - Idk what this was called prior
Outdoor area - Maybe this is actually "new"...

I want whatever they are smoking out in Cupertino.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Looks nice, at the end of the day, good customer service and getting the product or technology you want is what counts. I still think it was disingenuous of Byron from the Apple Store in Bellevue, WA to sell me that iPhone 6 Air Case for my iPhone 6s that can't fit the device.

 

[routine_analyst]

This is much better IMHO:

Damn that generation of stores were beautiful. You can certainly tell that an admiration for art has left Apple. Instead you get goofy 1960's modern round tree planters, giant birdhouse sliding doors and nothing more.

 

[anomie]

Completely steril Bauhaus architecture.

That's what I feel too. Apple stores have never been a warm place where I like to be. I order everything from their online store after I had the chance to test it at a friend's.

 

[diipii]

Apple today invited journalists to San Francisco to preview its new Union Square store, set to open this weekend. Dozens of images are being shared on Twitter and other social networks, giving us our first glimpse at the revamped store that's been under construction for more than two years.

As it shows off the new location to journalists, Apple has also published a press release outlining all of the new features in the store.

Inside the new Apple Store, via Shara Tibken​

The store features a next-generation design that's been adopted by other retail locations in Brussels and Memphis, with wide, open spaces, high ceilings, enormous windows, redesigned product display areas, and a 6K video screen that spans most of one wall. Unique to San Francisco is a set of massive 42-foot tall glass doors that slide open 40 feet to leave the front of the store open to the street.

Click here to read rest of article...

Article Link: Apple Previews New Flagship Union Square Store in San Francisco

Big hello and a small sherry.

 

[amegicfox]

Ive is not an architect and not an interface designer. He has no clue. Go back to the lab and design a mouse with a charging port on the side and a pencil with a female connector instead of a male and iPhones and iPads without bumps. Instead now is even ruining the store's interior design. Him and Tim are the most egomaniac people in the planet and the board should fire both of them.

 

[DrumApple]

Oh wow. Looks like every other Apple store

 

[Dilster3k]

I still don't understand why they don't feed the cable through the feet of the table. Everything would look so much more cleaner and elegant.

 

[justperry]

Damn that generation of stores were beautiful. You can certainly tell that an admiration for art has left Apple. Instead you get goofy 1960's modern round tree planters, giant birdhouse sliding doors and nothing more.

There is another one in The Netherlands, in The hague, really beautiful on the outside too:

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Our climate is perfect for a 40 foot opening onto the street. But our crime problem isn't.
Turns out the easiest way to loot high end retail is en masse. A huge door sounds perfect for a really big theft.
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Brazen-thefts-by-Rainbow-Girls-at-high-end-5941850.php
It's always been true, but it's startling when crooks realize the power they have to overwhelm store security and law enforcement combined.

I imagine it would be a little more difficult at an Apple store. From what I've experienced, the products on the tables have security sensors on them, and the new boxed products are in a wall behind the Genius Bar. Even if someone did snatch some products, I'd say it's probable that Apple has the information on those devices and is able to track them.

 

[MeatballTheBulldog]

They are more in highlight these days for store openings and gossip articles than they are for actual product launches. Are we living in a Post-Apple era?

No, just simply the era of math with scale-and-leverage: a large corporation is bound to have more stores than number of distinct products, and gossip sites almost per definition will report more frequently than product launches.

 

[trekkie604]

40ft clear span opening doors for a tech store? Not like they will be driving any cars in there... o wait.

 

[now i see it]

When walking into a store that is so ostentatious as this one, you know the company that owns it is gouging all of its customers hand over fist. Such an obscene display of corpulence.

I don't like going into Apple stores at all.