Apple's Flagship Tower Theatre Store Opening in Los Angeles on June 24

[MacRumors]

Apple has been working on an Apple Store at the iconic Tower Theatre in Los Angeles for years now, and the new location is set to open later this month on June 24.

Apple Tower Theatre is the first retail store in downtown Los Angeles, and it's located in L.A.'s historic Broadway Theater District. This location was the city's retail hub for the first half of the twentieth century, and is now home to a dozen theater locations.

From the beginning, Apple has envisioned the Tower Theatre store as one of the world's most prominent Apple retail locations, and Apple has been overhauling the interior of the building to turn it into retail space and an active community area. Apple shared a rendering of what Tower Theatre might look like back in 2018.

The redesign preserves the ornate Renaissance Revival style of the interior of the theater, which was originally built to mimic the Paris Opera House with French, Spanish, Moorish, and Italian elements.

As with all retail locations, Tower Theatre will host free Today at Apple Sessions, and the location features a Forum and a Video Wall to facilitate interaction, according to 9to5Mac's Michael Steeber.

Prior to Apple's restoration of the location, Tower Theatre was in disrepair, which is why it took Apple so long to refurbish it. Apple used original Tower Theatre blueprints and photographs to restore original theater elements like murals, decorations, and the leaded-glass window over the entrance.

Apple has taken on other major restoration projects and those locations have become major flagships with some of the most memorable and iconic store designs. These include Covent Garden, the Opéra store in Paris, Apple Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, Apple Amsterdam built in the famous Hirsch building, Apple's Grand Central store in New York, and the Carnegie Library store in Washington, D.C.

Article Link: Apple's Flagship Tower Theatre Store Opening in Los Angeles on June 24

 

[jjjlevin]

loooking forward to a visit soon

 

[citysnaps]

Nice to see Apple spending the $ to preserve and restore historic buildings in disrepair, such as this one which was abandoned.

 

[AmazeSE]

Well that was fast. I wonder how long will Apple take to at least bring a single Apple store to the many countries which do not have one? Maybe 10 years? 🤔

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Nice! This is very historic. This is where Apple will get creative.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Well that was fast. I wonder how long will Apple take to at least bring a single Apple store to the many countries which do not have one? Maybe 10 years? 🤔

it actually took 3+ years to open.

 

[lyngo]

It looks very nice in the rendering that is shared. I have to say that I don't just go to the Apple store or that specific area to "hang out" in "an active community area". It's nice that they have made the effort at preserving the history of that area.

 

[barkomatic]

I'm glad to see this building and many others getting restored and then maintained. There are those who get really upset that spaces like this don't get repurposed as a community center, but those projects are rarely feasible and never have the funding to properly restore a structure like this--usually what happens is a lot of drop ceilings and sheetrock.

When Apple retail inevitably contracts one day, it would be relatively easy to make it into a theatre again--and the costly restoration work will already be done.

 

[cmaier]

Looking forward to driving down there in the next couple of months, and maybe taking in Disneyland again to celebrate the end of the pandemic.

 

[now i see it]

Downtown Los Angeles is such a yucky place. Only thought that comes to mind when I'm there is when can I leave?

 

[imgregorous]

Very curious about what parking looks like - but I absolutely plan on checking it out!

 

[citysnaps]

I'm glad to see this building and many others getting restored and then maintained. There are those who get really upset that spaces like this don't get repurposed as a community center, but those projects are rarely feasible and never have the funding to properly restore a structure like this--usually what happens is a lot of drop ceilings and sheetrock.

When Apple retail inevitably contracts one day, it would be relatively easy to make it into a theatre again--and the costly restoration work will already be done.

Bringing that theater (built in 1927) up to current commercial building codes, while preserving/respecting and refurbishing the original grandeur/opulence and design must have cost a staggering amount of money.

 

[mrr]

Downtown Los Angeles on Broadway is awesome. So many great historic movie theaters, Grand Central market, the Bradbury Building, and now Apple in the restored Tower Theatre. I will be there on opening day!

 

[arlomedia]

It's a slightly (!) different aesthetic style from most Apple stores, but I like it!

 

[KaliYoni]

I think Apple's restoration of architecturally significant buildings, when done with sensitivity and care, is a fine thing.

Many of these Apple stores show the massive power of the Apple brand because, especially in the area I live in, people who normally vociferously protest and then block any kind of development or zoning changes or what they call "formula retail" don't do anything to stop a new Apple Store from opening. I guess the siren call of AirPods and Max Pro iPhones is so irresistible, it can induce paradoxical behaviors (tie me to the mast!).

 

[sully54]

I'm glad to see this building and many others getting restored and then maintained. There are those who get really upset that spaces like this don't get repurposed as a community center, but those projects are rarely feasible and never have the funding to properly restore a structure like this--usually what happens is a lot of drop ceilings and sheetrock.

When Apple retail inevitably contracts one day, it would be relatively easy to make it into a theatre again--and the costly restoration work will already be done.

Exactly this.

I would rather that a company like Apple puts in the extensive amount of work and resources to restore buildings like this because otherwise, they go into disrepair and gets slated to be torn down only to be replaced by a condo building or a strip mall. Apple setting up stores in these buildings is a small price to pay for the preservation of historic buildings such as this.

The world doesn't need another strip mall.

 

[Eduardo Paz]

It’s near my boyfriend’s apartment.

 

[Ceviche Lover]

You'll never catch me in there. The homeless population in the area is insane. They will assault you for no reason at all like in NYC.

 

[Antes]

DTLA and this specific area have improved immensely and love that that they overhauled a historic building.

 

[lorca2770]

You'll never catch me in there. The homeless population in the area is insane. They will assault you for no reason at all like in NYC.

Mar-a Lago, then

 

[citysnaps]

Looking forward to driving down there in the next couple of months, and maybe taking in Disneyland again to celebrate the end of the pandemic.

If you have a chance while you're in downtown LA and haven't seen it yet, check out Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall - an amazing space and design, inside and out.

 

[Fernkelsey]

You'll never catch me in there. The homeless population in the area is insane. They will assault you for no reason at all like in NYC.

Lol I live in New York and I’ve never once been “assaulted” by a homeless person. 😂

 

[Rocko99991]

Lol I live in New York and I’ve never once been “assaulted” by a homeless person. 😂

Oh, well then I guess it can't ever happen to anyone.

 

[Maknae]

It looks very nice in the rendering that is shared. I have to say that I don't just go to the Apple store or that specific area to "hang out" in "an active community area". It's nice that they have made the effort at preserving the history of that area.

I agree. Although the restoration is nice, I’d imagine the acoustics in there will result in a deafening echo chamber. Apple stores are already loud and crowded. Personally, I’d never hang out at an Apple store, especially in LA. I’d rather not be robbed once I step out the store or encounter homeless in the “active community area”.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Very nice.

I wish we had a local stand-alone store instead of the mall. I would revel in a place like this.