First Canadian Apple Store

[jicon]

Forgive me, it's been a nearly two years since I've been back to Montreal...

Wasn't there some sort of Mac store in the Mall across from FutureShop on St. Catherines? Or was that a B.Mac store?

Sorry, I was mesmerized by the strip clubs at the time...

 

[trump]

Yorkdale is Northwest of downtown Toronto, located accross the 401 (major highway) from Downsview Park (the place where the Rolling Stones held SARStock)

It's one of the larger, more high profile malls in Canada - though it is pretty far removed from the Tourist heart of Toronto

 

[JonHimself]

It's just off the 401 in between Dufferin and the Allen... I believe? When I go I take 400 South to 401 East then get off and go South on Dufferin and it's right there.

 

[JonHimself]

Sorry, I was mesmerized by the strip clubs at the time...

There are just so many of them.. it's hard not to be mesmerized...

 

[Raid]

Yorkdale store confirmed

Hi all, as I mentioned I went to Yorkdale this evening and took a couple of pics
Close up of new map for Yorkdale's store (featuring the new apple location).

Wide shot of new map... sorry didn't use the flash so it's a little grainy

Shot of store front...note that the opening date has been removed. It looked like it was scraped off.

 

[Sayhey]

Thanks, Raid. I'm willing to bet that the date wasn't supposed to be there and some Apple exec had a fit. Secrets, secrets, secrets - they're paranoid about their secrets!!!

 

[pbook15]

Sweet, I'm close enough for a subway trip there 🙂

Do we know if apple will be doing the lucky bags for this location? I'm close enough to road trip up and would love to get $500 worth of stuff for $250 🙂

 

[pbook15]

And there is an Apple reseller on Elm St, just arount the corner, Vistek is relatively close and there are a few more resellers not to far away, perhaps Yorkville isn't that bad of a place, it's often percieved as more of a high-end mall. Either way, i'm going to be checking it out shortly after it opens!
Odd that it would be in an area that seems to be dominated by footware. I thought that stores were often grouped together by similar demographics. For example Banana republic, Holt Renfrew and Pottery Barn in one corner and Old Navy, some cheap shoe store and the t-shirt stand in another. Perhaps i'm getting off topic and digressing into an urban planning situation...

I think that Eaton Centre at Yonge/Queen (where the Tower Records used to be) is a great spot. Mind you Compusmart is pretty close by there.

 

[gmark2000]

And there is an Apple reseller on Elm St, just arount the corner, Vistek is relatively close and there are a few more resellers not to far away, perhaps Yorkville isn't that bad of a place, it's often percieved as more of a high-end mall.

Further info from Appleinsider:

In the meantime, Apple's retail expansion into Canada is heating up. As first reported by AppleInsider last month, the company's inaugural Canadian retail store is scheduled to open May 21st at the Yorkdale Shopping Center. And Apple has its sights on at least 3 other shopping malls in the Ontario area, sources say.

The company last month continued negotiations for a retail space with Cadillac Fairview, realtors for the Toronto Eaton Center. The negotiations for the Eaton Center space have been described as "long" and "drawn-out." A deal is reportedly in place but has not yet been inked.

The Apple retailer on Elm Street will probably be closing down in the next month. North Star Computer is in big financial trouble per this thread:
http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=22850

 

[Abstract]

The original AppleInsider piece also said their would be another Toronto store in Vaughan Mills mall coming soon. While we have yet to see evidence of this second location, given the accuracy of AppleInsider's information it bears watching to see if there are any developments on this front.

You haven't been to Vaughan Mills, have you.

This brand new mall is full of stores already. Where are they going to put an Apple Store? Unless 2 or 3 adjacent stores fold in the next few months, that won't happen.

 

[Sayhey]

You haven't been to Vaughan Mills, have you.

This brand new mall is full of stores already. Where are they going to put an Apple Store? Unless 2 or 3 adjacent stores fold in the next few months, that won't happen.

Let's see ... last time I was in Toronto was ... never. No, of course you, and other members around Toronto have a better understanding of your area than the rest of us, but the point of the part of the post you quote that it is clear that AppleInsider has the best information concerning Canadian stores.

 

[ipedro]

Further info from Appleinsider:


The Apple retailer on Elm Street will probably be closing down in the next month. North Star Computer is in big financial trouble per this thread:
http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=22850

Good! They got what they deserve. They charge way above what Apple charges at the Apple Store and then lie about it.
I went to buy my first PowerBook there, I spoke directly with the manager. When I was ready to purchase, I noticed the price was different than it was online. He said it was similar and we had a discussion about why he would charge more than the regular price. He treated me like ***** from that point on.

Not only do they jack up their prices, they have bad service. That ain't'no good business plan, so I'm not surprised they re closing.

There's plenty of Apple Retailers in the area. The best ones being on College and Spadina and Carbon Computing on King st. in the East end. I'm sure an Eaton Centre/Dundas Square Apple Store will open soon after the Yorkdale store.

 

[nperreault]

I agree

The lack of sells a Bmac was not due to a small market but due to the fact that B.Mac was the bigest hunk of **** in the world. they claimed to me "mac specialists" yet never had anything in stock, what they had as display models was always previous generation etc. whereas compusmart , who is not a 'mac only' store, has more mac stock then all the bmacs combined. they also have display models that are upto date with many models of each, in different configurations. plus their sales people actually know what they are talking about. anyway montreal would get an apple store before vancouver because is demand (for more apple stores) plus we are also the second largest city in canada

The problem is that in Montreal, no store only sell Apple products. They are all PC sellers. I think an Apple store would be a very good thing in Montreal.

Go beau frere

 

[Symtex]

Forgive me, it's been a nearly two years since I've been back to Montreal...

Wasn't there some sort of Mac store in the Mall across from FutureShop on St. Catherines? Or was that a B.Mac store?

Sorry, I was mesmerized by the strip clubs at the time...

You are referring to the B.Mac store. Now only the Microserv in Dorval sells apple only products. They have quite a variety of equipment but don't hold alot of stock.

 

[feature]

Pointe-Claire ? doubt it, he probably meant Sainte-Catherine. Anyways that's the logical downtown place, unless they put one at Rockland or Marché Central. The West Island is way too far

First off I live downtown Montreal. 10 Minutes from Peel and Ste Catherine. An while i agree that Somewhere along Ste-Catheraine is the most logical spot. Most likely near the Paramount.

I think if it were to open any other stores Rockland or Marche Central would be the worst locations. Rockland is a useless mall. It doesn't have any other draws that would need to be in a mall setting to draw potential customers.

Marche Central while a nice idea would make the apple store in a big box plaza. Bad idea.

Not to mention both places are hell to drive to at this point.

After downtown i would say the logical next stores would be Fairview mall out in Pointe-claire and Carfour Laval off the island.

Both thos locations have bright clean modern malls with crazy traffic.

 

[gmark2000]

First off I live downtown Montreal. 10 Minutes from Peel and Ste Catherine. An while i agree that Somewhere along Ste-Catheraine is the most logical spot.

Discussions on the Canadian forums seem to believe that the Centre Les Ailes on Ste-Catherine is the best fashionable/trendy location.

 

[TheGSpot]

Dont want any stores in Vancouver lol Stay the hell out!!
I work at MacStation on Homer, Apple store will hurt resellers. 🙁

And i need a job god dammit hah

 

[aethier]

Discussions on the Canadian forums seem to believe that the Centre Les Ailes on Ste-Catherine is the best fashionable/trendy location.

depends were. like if they want street front i would go with eaton center (right next to it on st-catherine) if they want inside the shopping center i would go with les ailes. both are booming with traffic as people walk through them from Central Station, to Mcgill metro station etc. (which means pleanty of college / university students)

if i where apple, i would stick one in the complex les ailes, one street front in the eaton center (st-catherine level). one off island in Carrefour Laval. both are highly frequented by apples target market

(salut mr. perreault 😀 )

 

[g.money]

so is it worth lining up for gift bags?

What's this store gift bag thing people are talking about? Do they always give em out when new store opens? Is it worth the inevitable lineup?

I think I saw some stories on huge lineups for apple stores (Ginza or something), but would they let people line up in yorkdale mall? Usually they close that puppy down during the wee hours of the night.

 

[ender78]

What's this store gift bag thing people are talking about? Do they always give em out when new store opens? Is it worth the inevitable lineup?

I think I saw some stories on huge lineups for apple stores (Ginza or something), but would they let people line up in yorkdale mall? Usually they close that puppy down during the wee hours of the night.

This is NOT a gift bag ! You must purchase the bag.

 

[revjay]

...it's got a roof for those rainy days! 😀

Dude...have you been to Vancouver this winter???
I still say forget Vancouver...build it in Victoria Baby!!!

 

[Kingofthenerds]

Australia

You know who really needs some Apple stores? Australia. Lets get a move on apple!

 

[Kato C.]

I don't know about Toronto, but I'm not sure that Vancouver needs one. We have two MacStations, Westworld and two Simply Computing all Mac dealers. It might be cool, but I'm not sure it would improve mac sales or support.
I'm an Apple VAR and already I can't get equipment, what are my chances
if a store opens up around here?

Gee, so there's lots of Apple distributors in Vancouver! Bad news for them.
Van must be the next location, given actions in the US. It seems that the presence of distributors is a prime metric that Apple uses in deciding where to go next. Why build a market when you can just go in and steal it from someone else? 🙁

 

[DeepIn2U]

Yippeee

1st off, @trump

Yorkdale is Northwest of downtown Toronto, located accross the 401 (major highway) from Downsview Park (the place where the Rolling Stones held SARStock)

.

Downsview Park is across the 401 right smack next to Wilson Station (1st station north of Yorkdale station which when you get off the north side you walk right into Yorkdale mall) I should know I live in Toronto for 30 years and presently living in Hamilton ON - will be moving back soon.
PS. Thats where the old Air Force base is and sub public airport is.
Also, Yorkdale is NOWHERE close to downtown Toronto!! you'd have to pass York Toronto district before getting downtown (between Eglinton Avenue & St. Claire Ave.) Where Dufferin street crosses Orfus Rd last of 2 street lights south of 401 on/off ramp is closer to Yorkdale mall (the mall is between 401Hwy and Orfus Rd).


That said......Trump you gotta go to the opening should be spectacular.

3 days before my birthday, and feeling gidee. now I think back reminds me of going to blockbuster movies like Idiana Jones & Temple of Doom, Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, etc. (all of which open up in May around Victoria Day).

Enjoy Toronto.
still got time to purchase a new Mac I think I'll wait just to pay my patronage to help the store & Apple out.

cheers.

 

[gmark2000]

now I think back reminds me of going to blockbuster movies like Idiana Jones & Temple of Doom, Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, etc. (all of which open up in May around Victoria Day).

That reminds me that the Star Wars: Episode III opens right before.