Apple Recloses 11 Stores in Southern California, Maryland, Ohio, and Tennessee

[MacRumors]

Apple is reclosing 11 additional retail stores in the U.S. because of local increases in coronavirus infections. As reported by 9to5Mac, the stores are located in California, Maryland, Ohio, and Tennessee, and add to the two stores that temporarily closed earlier this week, bringing the total Apple retail store reclosures in the country to 91.

The stores in California include Brea Mall (Brea), South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa), Irvine Spectrum Center (Irvine), Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo), Fashion Island (Newport Beach), El Paseo Village (Palm Desert), State Street (Santa Barbara),
and Promenade Temecula (Temecula).

Other U.S. store closures include Apple's Columbia store in Maryland, the Kenwood Towne Centre in Cincinnati, Ohio, and CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin, Tennessee.

The stores reclose from today, but Apple is accepting customers with existing online orders and previously scheduled Genius Support appointments at the locations through July 12.

Earlier this week, Apple chose to close four of its stores in Victoria, Australia, following the deteriorating health situation and the reintroduction of lockdown measures there.

Article Link: Apple Recloses 11 Stores in Southern California, Maryland, Ohio, and Tennessee

 

[chucker23n1]

Kind of a lot of misconceptions out there. In part because scientists are kind of discovering things as the pandemic goes on; in part because the media is eager for a quick narrative; in part because a lot of people want rationalizations.

For example, when the media talks about death rates and death tolls, that's factual, but also misleading. If you catch the virus and don't die from it, it can still pretty horrible. You could end up in the ICU. On a ventilator. You could end up with permanent lung damage. Damage to other organs. Apparently even the brain.

 

[rmoliv]

Why not wait and open only when it’s actually safe to do so? Yes, it’s going to take a while since half of the people do not give a toss about social distancing and wearing masks and each state adopts its own rules. What a mess!

 

[MrGuder]

I fear the price of the new iPhone 12 will be going up due to Apple losing money on so many stores being closed and then re closed again.

 

[DailySlow]

Kind of a lot of misconceptions out there. In part because scientists are kind of discovering things as the pandemic goes on; in part because the media is eager for a quick narrative; in part because a lot of people want rationalizations.

For example, when the media talks about death rates and death tolls, that's factual, but also misleading. If you catch the virus and don't die from it, it can still pretty horrible. You could end up in the ICU. On a ventilator. You could end up with permanent lung damage. Damage to other organs. Apparently even the brain.

Also brain damage and body-wide clots - all pending more research for confirmation - good news is (?) there is a plentiful supply of cadavers for forensic research.
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I fear the price of the new iPhone 12 will be going up due to Apple losing money on so many stores being closed and then re closed again.

IMHO 6 of one, half a dozen other other. Stores are very costly to operate (or taking a cue from WH - mismanage age catastrophically) and no point at all in exposing staff to an asymptomatic customer when infections are spiking somewhere. But sales of quality Apple mobile equipment will be going up as first wave goes on. I mean my 92 year old mother-in-law now uses her long ignored iPhone to check in with her doctor now. Doctor wants it, in person visits are on an urgent basis only. She'll be getting a watch soon (Apple) for med monitoring.

 

[sofila]

I fear the price of the new iPhone 12 will be going up due to Apple losing money on so many stores being closed and then re closed again.

Don't think so, in the million factors considered to establish the selling price, how much Apple loses for closed stores is very much at the bottom of the list. Disclaimer: my opinion, not supported by any data.

 

[hagjohn]

Why not think out of the box? Allow have 2 to 4 employees with customers (who have been screened) at a time while keep them social distanced and with proper ppe? At least they would be partially open and it would be responsible. If the area is too bad, then close them.

 

[I7guy]

Why not think out of the box? Allow have 2 to 4 employees with customers (who have been screened) at a time while keep them social distanced and with proper ppe? At least they would be partially open and it would be responsible. If the area is too bad, then close them.

Apple probably thought through the scenario you mentioned and decided a risk of infection of 0% from an apple store is better than a low risk.

 

[Sasparilla]

It's good they're closing as needed.

I’m glad they close when necessary, but man this country is a mess when it comes to handling this virus.

Well said. This graph really shows it - we should be where Europe is:

Coronavirus live updates: Italy to extend state of emergency; Nevada rolls back reopen for bars

The coronavirus has infected more than 12.29 million people around the world as of Friday, killing at least 555,486 people.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Stella]

The right thing to do, keep the Apple Store employees safe.

Deaths are beginning to rise, hospitals reaching capacity ( increasingly with young people ) , and Florida a hot mess with a county with a huge 33% positivity rate.

Florida county reports 33.5% positivity rate

The coronavirus pandemic has brought countries to a standstill. In many places, as countries reopen, Covid-19 cases are on the rise. Follow here for the latest.

www.cnn.com

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[jayducharme]

It's unconscionable that this pandemic has been politicized to such an extent that US citizens have basically been left to fend for themselves and entire industries have been allowed to collapse. Apple has enough cash on hand to weather this, but many others aren't as fortunate. I'm not sure how we're going to make it through this, nor how long it will take. We will eventually, but I hope we can fix the dysfunction that caused this calamity.

This person thinks the real pandemic in this country is narcissism:

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Why not think out of the box? Allow have 2 to 4 employees with customers (who have been screened) at a time while keep them social distanced and with proper ppe? At least they would be partially open and it would be responsible. If the area is too bad, then close them.

What do you think they’re doing? Apple is re-closing stores where it’s getting bad again. In my area, the stores are open, and operate basically how you describe. When I went in for my Genius Bar appointment, I had to wait outside the store until they were ready to go. Inside the store there were about 4-5 customers. Wipes and hand sanitizer were everywhere and the store smelled like Purell from outside when the door opened to let someone in or out. They have the best system of any store I’ve seen so far.

 

[nwcs]

Why not wait and open only when it’s actually safe to do so? Yes, it’s going to take a while since half of the people do not give a toss about social distancing and wearing masks and each state adopts its own rules. What a mess!

The problem then ends up being such a high unemployment rate with so many business closures that it would rival or surpass the Great Depression. There’s a cost to every decision. And there are lives lost to those who would be driven to poverty as surely as lives lost to the virus.

It really is a no-win scenario for everyone. Whatever decisions are made will greatly impact people in one form or another.

 

[ian87w]

Why not think out of the box? Allow have 2 to 4 employees with customers (who have been screened) at a time while keep them social distanced and with proper ppe? At least they would be partially open and it would be responsible. If the area is too bad, then close them.

There's a lot of fixed cost associated in keeping a store open, regardless of how many people (employees or not) in it. Rent, electricity, etc. Apple probably need a certain amount of purchases to justify having a store open, and the limitation of foot traffic just won't do it. In my country, plenty of stores in malls remain closed despite the malls opening because they simply cannot afford to due to the reduced foot traffic.

Imo Apple should reconfigure the stores to just have a simple pick up counter for store pick-ups/Apple care drop offs, without actually opening up the whole store.
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The problem then ends up being such a high unemployment rate with so many business closures that it would rival or surpass the Great Depression. There’s a cost to every decision. And there are lives lost to those who would be driven to poverty as surely as lives lost to the virus.

It really is a no-win scenario for everyone. Whatever decisions are made will greatly impact people in one form or another.

Yup, This is what's happening in my country. Plenty of lay-offs, and these people not able to afford living in the cities, go back to their hometown, causing local spikes of infection in certain remote regions. Either way, it's a lose lose situation.

 

[4487549]

The stores in California include Brea Mall (Brea), South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa), Irvine Spectrum Center (Irvine), Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo), Fashion Island (Newport Beach),

All in Orange County (the FL of CA) where the anti-maskers have put their community on watch with the Gov.

 

[Craptastic]

LOL!

So many of you work for the CDC, WHO, are infectious disease doctors...

Apple closing some of its stores really affect some of you like this? Geez 😂

 

[techwhiz]

It's unconscionable that this pandemic has been politicized to such an extent that US citizens have basically been left to fend for themselves and entire industries have been allowed to collapse. Apple has enough cash on hand to weather this, but many others aren't as fortunate. I'm not sure how we're going to make it through this, nor how long it will take. We will eventually, but I hope we can fix the dysfunction that caused this calamity.

This person thinks the real pandemic in this country is narcissism:

Interesting video.
And he's right. With the internet everybody thinks they're an expert.

 

[myrtlebee]

I wonder why they closed the Columbia, Maryland store. Apparently our state’s numbers are better than most. That said, I don’t believe it. All I see is crowds everywhere and people being reckless - not social distancing, having gatherings, some no masks. I’m still self-isolating regardless.

 

[incoherent_1]

There's a lot of fixed cost associated in keeping a store open, regardless of how many people (employees or not) in it. Rent, electricity, etc. Apple probably need a certain amount of purchases to justify having a store open, and the limitation of foot traffic just won't do it. In my country, plenty of stores in malls remain closed despite the malls opening because they simply cannot afford to due to the reduced foot traffic.

Yep, and Apple is doing relatively well compared to other retail businesses — they can probably afford those fixed costs since they have robust online sales and at least some purpose for keeping some stores (Apple Care, purchase pickups, etc.).

Pretty soon, we’ll start to see massive retail store closures in the US, even by large multi-nationals. It’s already happening in Hong Kong — they’re just a bit further along because real estate there is the most expensive on earth. And they’re handing COVID much much MUCH better than we are. It’ll be hitting the US soon too, which will be a sad sight to see.

 

[BaracksPhallusPalace]

When is this nonsense going to end... I can go to Target or Walmart but somehow other stores like the Apple Store are a higher risk of spreading coronavirus. Just keep the stores open, limit who can come in, and make them wear a mask. Shutting down the stores does nobody any good.

 

[RalfTheDog]

When is this nonsense going to end... I can go to Target or Walmart but somehow other stores like the Apple Store are a higher risk of spreading coronavirus. Just keep the stores open, limit who can come in, and make them wear a mask. Shutting down the stores does nobody any good.

Perhaps the problem is not that Apple is closing some stores. Perhaps the problem is, Walmart is open for non delivery business.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I wonder why they closed the Columbia, Maryland store. Apparently our state’s numbers are better than most.

The "State" and the local numbers can be very different. Where I am, in Arkansas... the "State" is doing moderately well. But of the reported infections, the VAST majority are in three counties (including Benton, where I am in the NW corner).

 

[Ion-X]

Not sure who will read this but let me just urge you to take this seriously. Even if you are young and survive the virus there is a good chance you will end with permanent lung damage or months of cognitive fuzziness.

Wear a mask if you must go out. Stay home if you can.

 

[ZipZap]

Kind of a lot of misconceptions out there. In part because scientists are kind of discovering things as the pandemic goes on; in part because the media is eager for a quick narrative; in part because a lot of people want rationalizations.

For example, when the media talks about death rates and death tolls, that's factual, but also misleading. If you catch the virus and don't die from it, it can still pretty horrible. You could end up in the ICU. On a ventilator. You could end up with permanent lung damage. Damage to other organs. Apparently even the brain.

I dont understand your point.
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It's unconscionable that this pandemic has been politicized to such an extent that US citizens have basically been left to fend for themselves and entire industries have been allowed to collapse. Apple has enough cash on hand to weather this, but many others aren't as fortunate. I'm not sure how we're going to make it through this, nor how long it will take. We will eventually, but I hope we can fix the dysfunction that caused this calamity.

This person thinks the real pandemic in this country is narcissism:

The truth is always the truth. Its not political or opinion. Call out lies loudly and often. Stop giving air time to liars.
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Not sure who will read this but let me just urge you to take this seriously. Even if you are young and survive the virus there is a good chance you will end with permanent lung damage or months of cognitive fuzziness.

Wear a mask if you must go out. Stay home if you can.

And immunity is fleeting so you can get it again and again.
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Finally, why Columbia Maryland of all places. I don't think its virus per se but perhaps a lack of customers.

 

[Fatboy71]

Why not wait and open only when it’s actually safe to do so? Yes, it’s going to take a while since half of the people do not give a toss about social distancing and wearing masks and each state adopts its own rules. What a mess!

My thought exactly.
Here in the UK we have different rules for Scotland, different rules for Wales, and also different rules for England, and it's a mess.

Yes it gets argued that the economy can't stand if shops/businesses are closed for a long period. But, it also seems pointless and more importantly dangerous, for shops/businesses to reopen, just to close again as quickly.

My experience is that there isn't enough enforcement been done with regards to social distancing, and also the wearing of masks when it's mandatory to wear them.