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Downtown Toronto is About to Get a New Apple Store [Updated]

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Update: In its Apple Store app, Apple has confirmed that its new Eaton Centre location opens Saturday, December 14 at 9:00 a.m. local time.

Original story follows.



The construction barriers covering an all-new Apple Store are nearly ready to come down at North America's busiest shopping mall.

Apple is set to open an over 10,000-square-foot store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Canada as early as December, according to a source, who said the grand opening will likely occur within the first half of the month.

apple-store-toronto-eaton-centre.jpg
Apple's existing store at the Eaton Centre​

Unlike other Apple Stores, Today at Apple sessions at the existing Apple Eaton Centre location abruptly end after Friday, December 6, suggesting that the new store could open on Saturday, December 7. However, our source believes that employee training could push back the opening until Saturday, December 14.

MacRumors was first to report on Apple's plans for a new store at the Eaton Centre back in January, when Apple filed a building permit for a new street-level store near the Queen Street entrance to the mall. The new store will take over a space recently vacated by apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch.

today-at-apple-eaton-centre-800x516.jpg

Apple's new store will be more than twice as large as the current 4,977-square-foot store, according to an Eaton Centre floor plan. The extra space is much needed, as not only is the Eaton Centre the busiest shopping mall in North America, but it is home to Apple's only store in Toronto's downtown core.

Apple has three other stores in Toronto at Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens, and Fairview, all within shopping malls. Rumors suggest Apple plans to open its first street-facing store at The One, an upcoming condominium and retail complex slated to open by 2022 at the busy intersection of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto.

Article Link: Downtown Toronto is About to Get a New Apple Store [Updated]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/11/27/downtown-toronto-is-about-to-get-a-new-apple-store/
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coolfactor

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Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?
 
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DeanL

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coolfactor said:
Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?
Click to expand...

Yup. And the Highway 401 in Toronto is also the busiest highway in North America ;)
Canadians cross the border into Detroit just as much as Americans cross the border into Windsor.
But Toronto is much farther from a major US city than Windsor is from Detroit, so we don't get as much Americans from the border area.
 
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Rodney Dangerfield

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Jun 29, 2017
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Great news!...While being a Toronto resident and frequent visitor to the Eaton Centre, this store was ALWAYS packed with potential customers with line-ups outside to control crowd...Looking forward to more square-footage and more breathing room.
 
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jicon

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coolfactor said:
Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?
Click to expand...
I've only lived in the GTA a year, but I think it is driven mainly by being so close to a major transportation hub, Union Station, which doesn't really leave much room to depart south of the station. Most people leaving the train or subway are heading north. My wife goes in to Toronto every once in a while, and each time, she's on foot, going through the PATH, or going through the mall on the way to work.
 
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EugW

EugW

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It’s about time. Going to that store had become extremely painful, even by several years ago. Overcrowded and often quite disorganized. It seems that Apple’s approach to in-store customer service had serious problems once stores became that busy. Worked better for less crowded stores.


coolfactor said:
Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?
Click to expand...
Toronto is a popular tourist destination for Americans, of course, and Eaton Centre is also a popular tourist destination.
 
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V.K.

V.K.

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Dec 5, 2007
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This is much needed. Hate going to the old Eaton Centre store which is always packed like a can of sardines. But this is a stop-gap measure at best. Even at twice the size of the old one the new store will still be too small. We really need a proper flagship Apple Store. Hope the rumors about the one at Yonge and Bloor are true. Any update on that one?
rixax said:
It may be the only Apple Store but I get most of my gear and support from Jump Plus at College and Spadina. They were the first apple dealers. https://shop.jumpplus.com
Click to expand...
Newly released products show up at Jump much later than at the Eaton store. And several times their support sent me to the Genius Bar. I don't even try them for support any more. I do buy things occasionally there but mostly cables and such.
 
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satchmo

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V.K. said:
This is much needed. Hate going to the old Eaton Centre store which is always packed like a can of sardines. But this is a stop-gap measure at best. Even at twice the size of the old one the new store will still be too small. We really need a proper flagship Apple Store. Hope the rumors about the one at Yonge and Bloor are true. Any update on that one?
Click to expand...

Yes, something bold and unique that could become as iconic as the Apple glass cube store in New York.

Steve Martin on 30 Rock, "Toronto is just like New York...without all the stuff." ?
 
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lunarworks

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Jun 17, 2003
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This is ten years overdue, honestly. The store is absolutely packed at the best of times. I don't know the thought process behind having only one tiny store in the downtown of North America's fourth largest city.

coolfactor said:
Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too.
Click to expand...
It helps that it has two subway stations connected to it, and is in the heaviest pedestrian area in Canada. This isn't like some suburban mall surrounded by a sea of parking, it's in a thriving downtown core.
 
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satchmo

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rixax said:
It may be the only Apple Store but I get most of my gear and support from Jump Plus at College and Spadina. They were the first apple dealers. https://shop.jumpplus.com
Click to expand...
Use to go there’s way back when they were called Computer Systems Centre. Service wasn’t great. Always felt they judged you as you walked in to determine whether or not to talk to you. But that’s pretty much customer service in Canada. Much better service in the US.
 
HiVolt

HiVolt

macrumors 65816
Sep 29, 2008
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Toronto, Canada
Thank god, and WAAAAY overdue.

What I wish they do is to separate the service/setup from the customers that are browsing & buying stuff. Because it's ridiculously confusing with people crossing over and just hanging around in places they shouldn't.
 
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