The above quote from Consultant was the top comment on the post with the before and after photos linked in the article. It would be pretty funny if it turns out to be true. It would be even funnier if he is consulting Apple.
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Apple to Renovate Iconic Fifth Avenue Store, Temporarily Relocate to FAO Schwarz Building
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The above quote from Consultant was the top comment on the post with the before and after photos linked in the article. It would be pretty funny if it turns out to be true. It would be even funnier if he is consulting Apple.
They are actually reducing the Regent Street store in size during it's renovation.
Ah. Toys for a different generation. FAO hasn't existed in its true "heyday" form for well over a decade now. I mean it's now owned by Toys R Us so not exactly the independent house of unique toys it was in the 60s, 70s, 80s. It's really FAO in name only.
Actually, the store is overrated. Getting downstairs is a pain (too many people, crappy curved stair case), once inside, it's just a big Apple store with way too many tourists in it. Seriously, take a photo of the cube and spend more time in Central Park.
You do realize that it's owned by Toys R Us and that the closing has nothing to do with Apple, right? The flagship Toys R Us in Times Square will be closing as well. Amazon, Walmart and Target have killed the toy stores.
They're well aware and welcome that sort of thing. The stores are supposed to be a place where people come in and feel comfortable to hang out as long as they want. I've heard stories of people writing novels in apple stores before. It's pretty crazy, but I understand the business rationale behind it.
Dude, have you been to the 5th Avenue Store? You don't even have to be in the store to pick up Apple's public wi-fi. It's available for people to use outside the store in the plaza surrounding the cube, and sometimes my phone will pick it up across 59th Street on the corner of NE 59th and 5th Ave. Apple KNOWS that people are using it! That's what they (Apple) want! They WANT people to come in and surf the Macs. Did you know that some iPhones in the store are able to make calls, and people make phone calls, evel long distance, even international??? And Apple wants people to do that. They want people to have the same experience using the device in store as if they were using it if they owned it at home. One time my phone battery was dead (my old flip phone years ago) and I REALLY needed to use a phone. I was in San Francisco and my flight back to New York had been canceled and I needed to make some calls. I went to the Apple Store and used a display iPhone. And it was totally cool. The employee in the store even said, "everyone does it and that's what Apple wants." I talked on the phone for about a half hour.
re: A "problem" Microsoft will never have to face.
I don't think so. I do not remember a time, even after starting their retail operation, Apple stores have not been packed with people buying product. Indeed, from the beginning they have achieved extremely high revenue per square foot numbers. They have always been a retail success.
Contrast that with Microsoft stores, often located near existing Apple stores, where I've never seen one busy, other than perhaps some kids playing Xbox on the side. Usually there are more store personnel with colored t-shirts waiting around with hands in pocket than customers.
It wasn't all that long ago the same was said of Apple.
I don't think so. I do not remember a time, even after starting their retail operation, Apple stores have not been packed with people buying product. Indeed, from the beginning they have achieved extremely high revenue per square foot numbers. They have always been a retail success.
Contrast that with Microsoft stores, often located near existing Apple stores, where I've never seen one busy, other than perhaps some kids playing Xbox on the side. Usually there are more store personnel with colored t-shirts waiting around with hands in pocket than customers.
They do that all the time in the U.S.A. I ℗ have seen this in Virginia and NYC and other stores in NYS.
I doubt the cube is going anywhere. They last reno was rebuilding the cube with fewer panels. This renovation looks to target the interior of the store. They'll likely refinish the appearance to fit whatever new look they have planned and maybe move things around to fit people more comfortably.
slow news day...
I am glad however they finally updated the San Jose CA Oakridge location. Before the remodel it was the smallest apple store - in the world!
I do like it when I go into apple store and the reps are diverse in age, background, etc. Keep it up Apple!
I am glad however they finally updated the San Jose CA Oakridge location. Before the remodel it was the smallest apple store - in the world!
I do like it when I go into apple store and the reps are diverse in age, background, etc. Keep it up Apple!
Cheers. Did not realise there were that many. I remember visiting 5th avenue and one other.
Sorry, I made the assumption, but the reason I made it was to extrapolate on what to do with them.I didn't say kick people out, good try. I meant if they lock their wi-Fi yo be only be given to customers who are doing one and one shopping & Macs in the floor. I am tired of blog lists speaking about writing posts from inside a Store and such! I call those king of people 'vampires' instead of calling them leaches.
Oh no, he's gonna flatten the design and do away all skeuomorphisms!...I hope I can still find the stairs...and use them...
The "heyday" for me ended in 1986, when they moved from 745 Fifth (where that giant-piano scene in "Big" was set) to the current location across the street. I remember when the GM Building was the most nondescript/least noteworthy of the locations in that neighborhood - Tiffany's, Bergdorf's, F.A.O. Schwartz, the Plaza, the Sherry-Netherland, the Pierre, Grand Army Plaza... That was, until (cue "Also Sprach Zarathustra") the black stone monolith... I mean, glass cube, arose.
It's an interesting progression at 767 Fifth... Did Apple move there to be close to Schwartz? Did Cartier move there (albeit temporarily) to be close to Apple? Or is it all a cosmic coincidence?
On the new iStore '16, advances in laminated glass have reduced the overall thickness to 1.6mm thin! This translates to a 40% reduction in volume and 7% increase in clarity. Here's a video featuring Jony Ive talking about how the new dangerglass 2 fits in with our design philosophy...
Apple has prepped stores in 24-36 hours before. It can be done if they wanted to.
Yes - they are worth $100 Bn (or whatever) and they are renovating a store. Wow!
I've never been to the SF Union Square store. (I haven't been to SF in more than a decade.)
But I recall all the controversy over the design of the Apple store, and the fact that it might destroy a piece of public art. Apple redesigned the store to address the controversy.
That wasn't all that long ago. Why are they moving the store now?
But I recall all the controversy over the design of the Apple store, and the fact that it might destroy a piece of public art. Apple redesigned the store to address the controversy.
That wasn't all that long ago. Why are they moving the store now?