Apple to Renovate Iconic Fifth Avenue Store, Temporarily Relocate to FAO Schwarz Building

[unplugme71]

Montgomery Mall Apple Store (Bethesda, Maryland) needs to be at least twice its current size. Probably more.

Or stop expanding and offer lower prices on products ordered online?

 

[John.B]

... while San Francisco's Union Square store will be relocated.

The Muni Station construction on Stockton and Ellis is such a cluster, and has been for two and a half years now with no end in sight. Construction noise permeates the store.

I wish they would do something with the San Francisco flagship store. It's very long in the tooth and in a very inconvenient location.

EDIT: Oh I see that it does mention SF being relocated. I just wish they would make it more of a landmark design like the New York store.

When I asked about the Union Square store opening I was told it was at least another year away.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

So they are cutting first day product announcement availability, forcing people to order more products from the online Apple Store, and yet blowing cash on renovating their actual stores?

Why?

 

[doelcm82]

So they are cutting first day product announcement availability, forcing people to order more products from the online Apple Store, and yet blowing cash on renovating their actual stores?

Why?

Because they've crunched the numbers and decided that it makes good business sense.

Despite doing all the things you said, the traffic and sales at these stores warrants the renovation project.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

All employees will have to be thinner.

And bendy.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

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.

I think it's a bad policy.

If I'm going in to look for a new computer, I don't want to find vagrants arsing about on the wifi; I want to assess the computer. I think that many people get put off from buying because of said computer hogs.

 

[Jax44]

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?

The new (Union Square) store is still under construction.

 

[flat five]

There's always:

• New York, Fifth Avenue
• New York, Grand Central
• New York, SoHo
• New York, Upper East Side
• New York, Upper West Side
• New York, West 14th Street
• Staten Island, Staten Island

Except the Fifth Avenue store is one of the coolest around. Upper West Side is pretty cool IMO.

williamsburg store opening soon

http://nypost.com/2014/12/09/apple-goes-ihipster-with-new-williamsburg-store/

 

[s1m]

I can't believe FAO is closing. That store has been there for ages. Sure, Apple stores are nice but they are everywhere; there's only one FAO Schwartz.

This is the Big news in theis story - quite sad really

 

[santaliqueur]

I can't believe FAO is closing. That store has been there for ages. Sure, Apple stores are nice but they are everywhere; there's only one FAO Schwartz.

There's only 1 FAO Schwarz left.

 

[kazmac]

I generally go before 8:00 a.m. and there's enough breathing room to use most of what you want. Folks are usually hogging the Mac Mini for surfing and that, but that's the time to go.

I wonder if the temporary store will also be open 24 hours.

That said, they do need a lot more room in that store, handles a crazy amount of traffic. And going during iPhone launches etc. is crazy.

I thought I read that FAO would simply move out of that store and to another space. It's a shame though. I've been in there a few times and it's fun.

 

[kds1]

I think it's a bad policy.

If I'm going in to look for a new computer, I don't want to find vagrants arsing about on the wifi; I want to assess the computer. I think that many people get put off from buying because of said computer hogs.

Well obviously this policy has hurt sales in Apple Stores /sarcasm

 

[kds1]

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.

I like the spiral staircase, I don't habe a problem with that.

 

[zorinlynx]

Did you know that some iPhones in the store are able to make calls, and people make phone calls, evel long distance, even international???

I've played with lots of phones in many Apple stores and not once did I ever see one that was activated on a carrier.

Is this a new thing? It seems odd Apple would pay for plans for display phones.

 

[Moopy Sac]

That's annoying! Visiting NYC in Aug and this was one of my stops!!!

It's cool, Hard Rock Cafe is still open.

 

[McCool71]

It is probably wise of Apple to do something. I have only been in the 5th Avenue store once - quite recently actually, in May this year - but the amount of people and noise level was massive.

I actually felt sorry for those working there that have to experience that every day.

 

[McCool71]

It's cool, Hard Rock Cafe is still open.

Don't forget MoMA. Best museum in NYC by a large margin IMHO.

 

[finnns2000]

Montgomery Mall Apple Store (Bethesda, Maryland) needs to be at least twice its current size. Probably more.

Bethesda Row was made bigger already, why renovate another one so close by? (Former Bethesda employee)

 

[mrcobra92]

They had better keep the cube! It already looks super modern and cool. No need to change that.

 

[Steve121178]

A "problem" Microsoft will never have to face.

Yes, because as a software company, people can download Microsoft software from the comfort of their home/office. Software is what makes Microsoft the vast majority of their money.

Having said that, Microsoft have proven they can make excellent hardware with the Surface etc. It obviously won't be on the same scale as the hardware Apple sell, so they won't need as many stores. Common sense.

 

[darkknight14]

All employees will have to be thinner.

Most of Apple Executive team could utilise the fitness features in their own creation: Apple Watch - especially Jony.

 

[DudeDad]

Lack of interest in toys killed the toy store.

Nope. Toys R Us used to be THE place. Once the toy makers agreed to sell through Walmart and Target at discounted prices, the toy stores were doomed.

 

[HeyLammy]

Surprised they're renovating the Regent Street Store. I went in there this year and I thought it was stunning. The Fifth Avenue store is iconic, but man it gets crowded, could do with an increase of size.

 

[2457282]

I can't believe FAO is closing. That store has been there for ages. Sure, Apple stores are nice but they are everywhere; there's only one FAO Schwartz.

Remember the movie BIG with Tom Hanks. The scene there at the FAO Schwartz was great.

Okay enough reminiscing. I love the glass cube, but seriously, once you go down into the store, it is an overcrowded space that really has nothing special to it. I hope that the move into the FAO space is not just temporary, but is somehow connected to the dungeon (with a pretty glass entrance). That would be awesome.

 

[RogueWarrior65]

Technically, this isn't the original FAO Schwarz store. That was the headquarters building for GM back in the 70s. FAO Schwarz was across the street back when they actually had really cool toys from all over the world e.g. Fischertechnik and large die-cast metal vehicles.