Rumor has it that the Ginza store in Tokyo was the inspiration for this store. I am guessing Normal shop space on the first floor, genius bar and internet cafe on the second and theatre/training center on the third floor. Which seems to mirror similar arrangements overseas. Still very nice looking store. I'd be happy t have them down the street.
Been to a few of them now and 5th avenue is the most creative. Don't expect the second sydney store or Melbourne to be so exciting. Sydney 2 is in Chatswood and there is lillte exciting spaces out there. Melbourne is in Chadstone Shopping Mall and will be limited by the confines of the mall environment. not to mention there are already 2 apple resellers in both Chadstone and Chatswood ! However apple's decision to use Westfield malls as the location of its other 2 stores was influenced by a deal which it struck with Westfield for presence in the US and other more lucrative territories.
The layout is as follows:
Ground floor: 80 Macs on display, free Wifi, all the Macs are available for the public.
First Floor: iPod (and presumably iPhone when it arrives) stuff.
Second Floor: World's largest Genius Bar, training areas etc.
It's a monster, the glass staircase is behind the back wall. The stairs are glass and they are fixed to the aluminium walls - it's very swish.