Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple to Open First Retail Store in Philadelphia

I got there about 4 and waited an hour. I was at the end of the block before the line curled around the corner. I'd say there were about 300 people in front of me. Line moved pretty quickly and the shirts they gave out said Walnut Street on the front with the Apple logo, they were all XL.

Store looks really cool, very spacious and tons of stuff on display. Genius bar and Creative areas were in the back. There were tons of employees there. Almost 1:1 ratio between customer and employee.
 
severe said:
It's too crowded?

Is Big John's still over in Cherry Hill? It's been years, but that place made a great cheesesteak at one time.

BTW... any of you left coasters want something authentic, there's a spot in Burbank, CA called South Street. Best out here.
Click to expand...

No locals go to pats or geno's because they serve low grade dog food (and the owner of geno's is a xenophobic nut case, but that's another story).

Yes, johns is still there but they've changed owners and fallen drastically in terms of quality. They've killed the business.
 
There's also a store down the Shore in Atlantic City at The Pier. I don't know if you can consider it a "Philadelphia area location," but it's practically an extension of Philly during the summer.

Still, I'm really surprised that there isn't an already existing Apple Store in Center City. I'm sure there are plenty of old bank buildings or whatever in Old City that Apple would love renovate.
 
I think they go by how many sales are made by people in an area and not how big a city is. In the Atlanta area I know of four Apple stores, they always seen to have a good amount of customers inside. I myself tend to buy online but go to the store to try stuff out. In fact the only device I have ever brought in the actual store was the original iphone but I love going into the places or just sitting outside using their WiFi and watching people in the Malls. I think I may have sold a few iPads to people that way.
 
Awesome!

highres said:
Forget about the cheesesteaks, if you're going to Reading Terminal, hit up DiNic's and get yourself a roast pork sandwich wit sharp provolone and garlicky broccoli rabe. Beats a steak sandwich hands down. No contest.

http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/merchants/view/56
Click to expand...

I read these forums everyday and do not do much posting, but I have to say this is the greatest post in MacRumors history IMHO. DiNic's is probably the best sandwich in the city/region. I miss that place so much since I live in Maryland, but I go there almost every time I am "home".
 
pagansoul said:
I think they go by how many sales are made by people in an area and not how big a city is. In the Atlanta area I know of four Apple stores, they always seen to have a good amount of customers inside. I myself tend to buy online but go to the store to try stuff out. In fact the only device I have ever brought in the actual store was the original iphone but I love going into the places or just sitting outside using their WiFi and watching people in the Malls. I think I may have sold a few iPads to people that way.
Click to expand...

Well, evidently they've been trying to find an appropriate space for the store since 2004.

http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2010/07/27/long-time-store-project-scheduled-to-open/

Also, as others have mentioned earlier, there are four other Philadelphia area apple stores: King of Prussia and Ardmore in Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill and Sagemore in New Jersey. There are maybe even five if you include the one in Newark, Delaware (which isn't all that far away).
 
tempusfugit said:
way to finally build a store in the 6th largest city in the country, apple.


what was the hold up?
Click to expand...

The nicest way I can say this, well, the least political actually, is that Philly has a major issue with the unions... Believe me, I'm NOT looking for a political debate, I'm not saying it's right or wrong- but it's a fact that the unions are VERY powerful in this city... As a result we've seen major corporations pull projects from here on a regular basis because the control they're required to give up makes it fiscally impossible... Companies can't even have trade shows here anymore because they're required to have a union company set up their displays... Think about that, most displays at trade shows consist of a few tables,some lights, etc, etc... Companies have always set that up themselves- here this needs to be done by a union approved company, at union wages..That's just the tip of the iceberg with this situation- one small example of a very big issue here..

I'm not sure this had anything to do with Apple not coming sooner, but I'm not sure it didn't either... All I know is I happened to pass by the store on Walnut on Friday night, and at 10PM it was still a madhouse... The market has been here for years
 
Eh, I didn't hear anything about unions stymieing any plans for an apple store. So, I highly doubt that that's the case.

Yes, we've heard about the unions causing trouble at the convention center, but they did resolve some, if not most, of those issues a while back. And, though convention bookings have been down as of late (as they are most places due to the economy), the convention center still attracts major trade shows and meetings and will be able host even more when the expansion finishes soon.

There was the big "unions trying to block the installation of waterless urinals in Comcast Center" a few years ago, but that issue was resolved as well. Other than that, I've not heard much about union disruptions recently. I think people give them credit (both good and bad) for more than they deserve. And, I'm pretty sure that we haven't been seeing "major corporations pull projects from here on a regular basis" because of unions. But, if you have a list of them, then I'd like to see it.
 
anng12 said:
I know the owner of the Burbank CA place (South Street)
Click to expand...

Try to convince him they need a location in south county; Long Beach. They closed the spot in Westwood an it's a 40 minute drive to his place. ;)

jemeinc said:
Yes, johns is still there but they've changed owners and fallen drastically in terms of quality. They've killed the business.
Click to expand...

Thanks, sorry to hear.

highres said:
Forget about the cheesesteaks, if you're going to Reading Terminal, hit up DiNic's...
Click to expand...

I'll make it a point when I'm visiting home.
 
wally21 said:
Eh, I didn't hear anything about unions stymieing any plans for an apple store. So, I highly doubt that that's the case.

Yes, we've heard about the unions causing trouble at the convention center, but they did resolve some, if not most, of those issues a while back. And, though convention bookings have been down as of late (as they are most places due to the economy), the convention center still attracts major trade shows and meetings and will be able host even more when the expansion finishes soon.

There was the big "unions trying to block the installation of waterless urinals in Comcast Center" a few years ago, but that issue was resolved as well. Other than that, I've not heard much about union disruptions recently. I think people give them credit (both good and bad) for more than they deserve. And, I'm pretty sure that we haven't been seeing "major corporations pull projects from here on a regular basis" because of unions. But, if you have a list of them, then I'd like to see it.
Click to expand...


When the unions were being specifically cited as reasons for business drying up in Philly the economy was MUCH better... Now, businesses don't even bother giving specifics, the standard "it's not fiscally practical" is what's heard most often... Is this the reason? I don't know, but I'm sure it's part of it... If this offends you, I apologize, wasn't my intention... Obviously you're pro-union, that's great, I'm NOT anti union- but we can both agree that that the heavy handed stance of the unions in the past hasn't been great for growing business in Philly...
 
Hey, I understand where you're coming from. I'm not particularly pro-union and was very upset by the convention and comcast center issues. I don't want unions driving business away from this city.

I'm just not so sure that they have the iron grip on the city that they once had. To be sure, they can still cause trouble, but I don't think that they're more of an issue here than they are in other older Northeast and Midwest cities.

The city and SEPTA unions can still be really frustrating, but again, in tight budget times, what unions wouldn't be?

Anyways, back to the greatness of the new apple store. Going forward, wouldn't it be great if apple chose to expand the store by building some type of glass structure above and designing an amazing staircase connecting all the floors, bringing natural light through the whole structure (similar to the cube and staircase of the 5th avenue store)? The current two-story masonry structure just seems ripe for something like that, right?
 
wally21 said:
Hey, I understand where you're coming from. I'm not particularly pro-union and was very upset by the convention and comcast center issues. I don't want unions driving business away from this city.

I'm just not so sure that they have the iron grip on the city that they once had. To be sure, they can still cause trouble, but I don't think that they're more of an issue here than they are in other older Northeast and Midwest cities.

The city and SEPTA unions can still be really frustrating, but again, in tight budget times, what unions wouldn't be?

Anyways, back to the greatness of the new apple store. Going forward, wouldn't it be great if apple chose to expand the store by building some type of glass structure above and designing an amazing staircase connecting all the floors, bringing natural light through the whole structure (similar to the cube and staircase of the 5th avenue store)? The current two-story masonry structure just seems ripe for something like that, right?
Click to expand...

You know what? That's a fair point. Agreed. They very well may not have the same stranglehold they had a few years back. Honestly, I have no reason to believe it's still the case- if not, that's great news. Watching Disney & others pull the plug on major projects a few years back was tough.

You're right, that new store is pretty nice. I went into 500° to get a burger and walked over to check it out. It seems wider than most of the apple stores- I could be wrong on that, but it seems very open. I like it
 
Nice to see an Apple store in Philly - went to high school and college there back in the late 60's early 70's. Still get into town on occasion for the flower show and to dinner at Morimoto's. Believe it or not the Philly store is actually easier for me to get to than any of the Jersey stores (I live in Trenton).

Anyways, I wonder if this union thing was responsible for Cirque du Soleil not being able to do their tent show in the South Philly lot back in the Spring? The show was Ovo and it was to be in the lot they've used before on South Broad Street. Had tickets and then got a notice from Cirque late last year that due to circumstances beyond their control they had to pull out of doing the show in Philly and instead adding on the dates to the Randall's Island in NYC show dates.
 
hlfway2anywhere said:
"Apple to Open First Retail Store in Philadelphia"

Okay. The wording of this headline means one of two things. Either Apple is opening their first retail store ever, or Philadelphia is getting their first retail store ever. :)

"Apple to open their first Philadelphia retail store"

thats better.
Click to expand...

Thanks :D
 
I've posted often before about Center City needing an Apple store. I used to live just a few blocks from Walnut Street for two years and always wished for it instead of trekking to Suburban Square on the regional rail. This weekend I visited again and got a cool surprise. :) Would have been nice to be there for the opening but oh well, the t-shirts apparently said just Walnut Street (same as Pittsburgh by coincidence!) and not CC Philly.

Go figure that now I live in Brooklyn and the closest SoHo store is over 30 minutes by subway. :p

PS - I did get my Macbook at the Delaware store. Took a full day between the train and a bus ride, but it was worth the tax save!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back