Apple Seeking to Build New Retail Store in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal

[arkitect]

Is there no stopping Apple's plan for world domination?

I used to worry about Microsoft… then Google… but I wasn't watching the back door.

 

[redvettez06]

i think you just made a huge leap. You should get a jump to conclusions mat.

Well, what exactly was I supposed to believe about that statement? Also, would you classify a place such as Tibet as being "devoid" of culture? How about Nebraska for that matter? The Yukon? Peru? I'm not trying to attack you, but to say that you need more than 1 culture represented to have any culture is wrong.

 

[abbstrack]

Having move to Manhattan in 1981 and living several of those early years in a "multi-cultural neighborhood" I saw crime and poverty on a daily bases. Drug use and dealing was rampant, there were at least 2 dealers in my building, I had to step over junkies to get into my apartment. Yes those were the good old days of multi-cultural existence. Don't get me wrong I'm not blaming minorities for crime I blame poverty. New York was literally bankrupt in the late 70's. The middle class fled to the suburbs. Housing prices dropped through the floor. What changed this in part was a new wave of immigrants, the Chinese and Koreans. Green grocery shops were reborn and the quality of life improved. Another big change was the building of prisons. New York state like many place in the US expanded its prison system, took criminals off the streets and put them away for a long time. The third and probably more debatable change happened on Wall Street. Like the movie the Reagan era was the beginning of relaxed regulations and it suddenly became a new game downtown. Bankers could make a ton of money in ways the were illegal the decade before. All this money spurred a building and investment boom which came crashing down in the early 90's with President Bush (the first one). By this time real estate was not turning back a lot of money had been spent building and buying properties. The chain stores by the end of the 90's were the only companies that could afford the commercial rents asked by landlord. Even Greenwich Village on tree lined 200 plus year old building Bleeker street was taken over by Ralph Lauren a few years ago forcing mom and pop stores out. New York is always changing that is a certainty. The other 4 boroughs are now what neighborhoods like the lower east side, soho, east and west village use to be, hotbeds of young artist, performers and writer, the very people that will shape our culture in years to come.

i would not argue with any of this one bit. It's pretty much spot on. The only thing I would add is the methods used to address poverty leave a lot to be desired. Unfortunately I think Manhattan could hav maintained its cultural diversity and still thrived, but that would push this discussion into reviewing each and every policy over the past 30 years (i.e. Rockefeller drug laws, etc.), undoing them, and adding something else in its place. Becomes a giant hypothesis.

 

[barkomatic]

i have not advocated once for high-rises. You should not make such huge leaps. i'm as opposed to them as anyone else. However i'd love to keep money in the boro instead of being forced to spend it in manhattan. If the inevitably is another apple store will open in nyc, i'd prefer it to be brooklyn. Especially since it doesnt cannibalize exisiting businesses in brooklyn, as apple products can only be sold by authorized dealers, of which there arent any here anyway. (aside the larger retail chains which I don't shop in for reasons already stated)

The problem is a lot of people in Brooklyn commute to Manhattan during the day for work--and can visit any Applestore on their lunch hour or immediately after work before they get on the subway home.

Besides, if Apple builds a retail store in Brooklyn I can only imagine the outcry from the hipster/stroller crowd. It would be Armageddon.

 

[iPhoneCollector]

I used to worry about Microsoft… then Google… but I wasn't watching the back door.

no you forgot to watch up. the ninja always come from above.

 

[sarge]

i have not advocated once for high-rises. You should not make such huge leaps. i'm as opposed to them as anyone else. However i'd love to keep money in the boro instead of being forced to spend it in manhattan. If the inevitably is another apple store will open in nyc, i'd prefer it to be brooklyn. Especially since it doesnt cannibalize exisiting businesses in brooklyn, as apple products can only be sold by authorized dealers, of which there arent any here anyway. (aside the larger retail chains which I don't shop in for reasons already stated)

I just think you should be careful what you wish for because of the law of unintended consequences is all. High end retail and $$$ condos go hand in glove, generally speaking.

 

[karsten]

We don't need any more traffic in Grand Central.

And just in case you're wondering, not everyone needs to see the fricking Apple logo everyday on the way to their other drone like work.

someone needs their happy pill!

i cant wait for the apple store in the white house

iBama wuh?

 

[abbstrack]

Well, what exactly was I supposed to believe about that statement? Also, would you classify a place such as Tibet as being "devoid" of culture? How about Nebraska for that matter? The Yukon? Peru? I'm not trying to attack you, but to say that you need more than 1 culture represented to have any culture is wrong.

Since you came back and asked nicely i can now address.

I think your example of Tibet, The Yukon, and Peru are misplaced because these are geographical locations where diversity has never existed on the level that it does in the US, and especially in NYC. When you have a city whose history is comprised of immigrant groups from all world, and whose makeup has been further influenced as people from all over the country have emigrated to it, you have a very diverse population that is reflected in the daily culture (food, art, music, dress, history, etc...) and how the city is shaped/formed. When those same groups are all slowly (or quickly) forced to then leave because of various reasons (affordability, gentrification, etc..) there is a cultural void left, especially when the remaining 1 or 2 groups become the sole influencers of how the city will be shaped from that point forward.

Does that make more sense?

 

[abbstrack]

I just think you should be careful what you wish for because of the law of unintended consequences is all. High end retail and $$$ condos go hand in glove, generally speaking.

i certainly agree with you. Unfortunately we're past the point of unintended consequences since we've already seen the construction of $$$ condos here in brooklyn. For me this is more about inevitability...if there is another store to open in NYC, why not finally Brooklyn?

 

[Popeye206]

Hump... keep waiting for the front page story to change. I want some more good rumors! Or at least something good to debate about.

 

[abbstrack]

oh also i do recognize how privileged an argument this is as someone pointed out earlier. I do realize there are people who have to drive upwards of 100 miles to go to an Apple store.

 

[sarge]

i certainly agree with you. Unfortunately we're past the point of unintended consequences since we've already seen the construction of $$$ condos here in brooklyn. For me this is more about inevitability...if there is another store to open in NYC, why not finally Brooklyn?

Yeah, I see your point. I felt the same way about the stadium - I would have rather had them build something nice rather than something mediocre.

Still, I'm not happy about the direction we're headed and I'm kinda glad the crisis put the brakes on all the develpemnt.

 

[redvettez06]

Since you came back and asked nicely i can now address.

I think your example of Tibet, The Yukon, and Peru are misplaced because these are geographical locations where diversity has never existed on the level that it does in the US, and especially in NYC. When you have a city that is comprised of immigrant groups from all over the country, and the world, you have a very diverse population that is reflected in the daily culture (food, art, music, dress, history, etc...) and how the city is shaped/formed. When those same groups are all slowly (or quickly) forced to then leave because of various reasons (affordability, gentrification, etc..) there is a cultural void left, especially when the remaining 1 or 2 groups become the sole influencers of how the city will be shaped from that point forward.

Does that make more sense?

I understand what you are communicating but I find your lack of specifics and poor utilization of language disturbing. I was pointing out your error not so much to engage you in debate, but to reference how improperly generalizing and misusing common phrases can lead to confusing and false statements. My mistake was making it personal towards you instead of gently suggesting an alternative way of expressing yourself. We can agree this is not the forum to discuss this in, no? I'm gonna "let it be" at this point and carry on with my life.

 

[Coleman2010]

i think you just made a huge leap. You should get a jump to conclusions mat.

I agree.

Well, what exactly was I supposed to believe about that statement? Also, would you classify a place such as Tibet as being "devoid" of culture? How about Nebraska for that matter? The Yukon? Peru? I'm not trying to attack you, but to say that you need more than 1 culture represented to have any culture is wrong.

He shouldn't have to list every single freakin' minority in NYC to get the general point across. One of the great things about NYC is the multicultural diversity here. It's sad to see Manhattan losing it.

 

[3282868]

clip

Agree 100% on all counts

 

[bytethese]

Hey Apple,

Can you guys hurry up with the Brooklyn Apple Store?!
You know the most populous borough in NYC

-Thanks
Management

Where in Brooklyn can they put it?

EXACTLY! If I want to go to Williamsburg Brooklyn, I have to go thru Manhattan from my corner of Brooklyn.

I think Atlantic Ave would be a good spot. Aren't they looking to build an arena, housing, etc right there too? TONS of lines hit that spot too.

I love me some Apple, but after the Upper West Side store opened, I don't think Manhattan needs any more Apple stores.

 

[tbrinkma]

They really got to look at there store design. The new store in my area in Chicago is an eyesore - just a rectanglar building with lots of glass, sparsely decorated with just basically a few tables inside, and big bright florescent lights that stream out of the glass at night and ruin the atmosphere of the surroundings. By day the sun streams into the store basically blinding everyone who goes in - you literally can't see.

And they design that structure from SCRATCH without an existing building in place.

Tony

Let me get this straight. You walk into the store, which you can clearly see, from outside in the sunlight, and suddenly the sunlight coming in through the windows is blinding to the point that you *literally* can't see?

You need to get your brain checked.

 

[abbstrack]

I understand what you are communicating but I find your lack of specifics and poor utilization of language disturbing. I was pointing out your error not so much to engage you in debate, but to reference how improperly generalizing and misusing common phrases can lead to confusing and false statements. My mistake was making it personal towards you instead of gently suggesting an alternative way of expressing yourself. We can agree this is not the forum to discuss this in, no? I'm gonna "let it be" at this point and carry on with my life.

Hm..if you need me to write a dissertation on this we can certainly engage offline, as im completely open to furthering dialogue on this. Not sure that specifics were necessary to make my larger point, but again if you feel they are needed we can engage elsewhere and discuss. I also disagree about your remark about improperly generalizing, as I have re-read my original post and still dont see it, so again thats something we can discuss elsewhere if you'd like. Otherwise, we can certainly let it be and carry on with both our lives.

update, i do see where i said lacking any real culture or diversity..that could be reworded to say lacking 'real diversity of culture'...so I wll concede that.

 

[abbstrack]

Yeah, I see your point. I felt the same way about the stadium - I would have rather had them build something nice rather than something mediocre.

Still, I'm not happy about the direction we're headed and I'm kinda glad the crisis put the brakes on all the develpemnt.

Here, Here..to all your points.

 

[alent1234]

Umm, there is nothing hypocritical about that.

Apple is a massive plus side to the economy.

Walmart is a drain. Walmart originally used economy of scale to lower their prices, but now their profits are largely based on the following factors:
1) Killing competition, and therefore killing demand for labor, allowing them to hire for cheap.
2) Using their monopsony status to force suppliers into unreasonable contracts (including selling below cost)
3) Reduce labor costs even further by giving workers terrible health care plans, essentially making the govt. pay for labor costs through emergency rooms.

The Apple labor issues were looked into quickly, and by most metrics their employees (whether in the US or their contractors' employees in China) are paid as well, if not better, than their peers. The same is not true of Walmart.

and all the small mom and pop businesses had fantastic benefits and health care plans

 

[QuiteSure]

Last Minute Shopping?

I think this is a brilliant move for Apple. Can you imagine the billions of laptops/iPads, etc. Apple will sell out of the Grand Central Station store on Christmas Eve to hurrying execs trying to get home for Christmas?

 

[addicted44]

and all the small mom and pop businesses had fantastic benefits and health care plans

They paid better. But even if they didn't the money remains/remained in the community, which meant there were more people employed, and so the supply of labor, vs. the demand for it in a region did not get so out of whack. Unlike now, where the money filters back to the top 1% who are busy hiding it in the Bahamas.

Anyways, your comment as a response to my post is pointless, because I never even mention mom and pop stores, much less advocate for them in my comment. My post simply points out that Walmart's competitive advantages are based on freeloading costs to the community or their monopsony status, both of which have a destructive effect.

 

[alent1234]

They paid better. But even if they didn't the money remains/remained in the community, which meant there were more people employed, and so the supply of labor, vs. the demand for it in a region did not get so out of whack. Unlike now, where the money filters back to the top 1% who are busy hiding it in the Bahamas.

Anyways, your comment as a response to my post is pointless, because I never even mention mom and pop stores, much less advocate for them in my comment. My post simply points out that Walmart's competitive advantages are based on freeloading costs to the community or their monopsony status, both of which have a destructive effect.

they did surveys in NYC's poor neighborhoods and people want wal mart. it's better than going to a convenience store where everything is overpriced and basic necessities end up costing a larger part of a tiny budget.

and pay and benefits are the same as most other retail stores. most stuff is lower quality and most people don't care since they save money in the end

the only people who complain about wal mart are the small business owners who lose out

 

[abbstrack]

they did surveys in NYC's poor neighborhoods and people want wal mart. it's better than going to a convenience store where everything is overpriced and basic necessities end up costing a larger part of a tiny budget.

and pay and benefits are the same as most other retail stores. most stuff is lower quality and most people don't care since they save money in the end

the only people who complain about wal mart are the small business owners who lose out

the only poll i've seen that shows broad support from residents in brooklyn for wal-mart is one commissioned by wal-mart. Not sure how much we can trust this data in the absence of any independent polls. I for one would be hesitant to accept this as accurate reflection of the general sentiment here.

 

[iCrizzo]

I just wish I could get one store in Vermont. Best Buy sucks as my Apple spot!