New Details of Apple's First Hong Kong Retail Store

[MacRumors]

Last week, we noted that Apple is apparently set to open its first retail store in Hong Kong by the end of the year, pursuing a 15,000 square-foot space in the IFC Mall.

A tipster by the name of Sean has sent us the above photo showing the space already sectioned off in the mall for Apple's store. While the coverings for the store are currently simple white wallboard, Sean tells us that ten store sites spanning two levels of the mall have been vacated to make room for Apple's new store.

Based on this information and an examination of the IFC Mall floor plans, we've been able to pinpoint the location of Apple's store (circled in blue on the images below) at the far eastern edge of the mall, close to Two IFC, one of the tallest office buildings in the world at well over 1300 feet, as well as a number of transit and ferry terminals.

Article Link: New Details of Apple's First Hong Kong Retail Store

 

[Doctor Q]

That's great detective work!

 

[iDisk]

Thats amazing work, actually!...... No find the blueprint to the bathrooms.... Cowabunga dude!!!

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Good job on the find, guys!

 

[eastercat]

Considering how advanced HK is, am I wrong to be surprised that this is the first Apple store?

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Considering how advanced HK is, am I wrong to be surprised that this is the first Apple store?

You're right - odd, isn't it?

 

[koruki]

You're right - odd, isn't it?

Yes I've always wondered what took them so long. You can see the queues are crazy at every single luxury brand store.

 

[rovex]

You would of thought they would have one by now, considering the Foxconn factory making all the products is just down the road in Shenzhen.

 

[charlituna]

Bugs the hell out of me to see these huge new stores going up when the store right down the street from me is so noisy and jam packed all the time but nothing is done abou it. And five different store spaces all larger (a couple well over double in size) have emptied in the last 18 months. And given that the Apple store is the only place that seems to bring any real business, the mall management should be willing to charge lost nothing in rent, say just enough to cover utilities. Revenue sharing would still give then a small fortune

 

[mrsir2009]

Awww when are the Apple stores going to come to New Zealand? I want to go to onw

 

[gpcovenant]

Thats weird I was just there a few weeks ago and the Hugo Boss which is on the second floor in that location was still open with no signs of closing.

Will have to go check that out and take some pics. And its a good location for the mall. That side of the mall gets much less foot traffic so and Apple store will really help out every store on that side of the mall.

And yes its really bizarre its taken Apple this long to get a store in HK. It should have been one of the first international stores and definitely the first asian store. Apple's popularity is growing immensely in HK.

 

[mklnz]

Awww when are the Apple stores going to come to New Zealand? I want to go to onw

I second this. Come on Apple - bring a store to New Zealand!

Although I'm very glad that HK is getting an Apple store too, I may be visiting next year.

 

[SiriusExcelsior]

I second this. Come on Apple - bring a store to New Zealand!

I third this! I'm a bit bitter that I didn't get to go to the Brisbane Apple store when I visited in December

By the way, the floor plan maps have changed even since MacRumors got hold of it.. it now says "New Anchor Shop coming".. that should confirm things quite a bit!

Floor one: http://i53.tinypic.com/5ebomr.png
Floor two: http://i54.tinypic.com/1z1s51i.png

 

[ryuok]

Considering how advanced HK is, am I wrong to be surprised that this is the first Apple store?

That's precisely why it took this long. Real property is forbiddingly expensive in Hong Kong, even for highly profitable stores like the store. Also Hong Kong has the most sophisticated Commercial/Residential space integration, and shopping malls are so well managed that they never run out of tenants. Trying to clear a 25k sq ft space in a prime location is extremely costly and close to impossible, if not for the reputation of the Apple Store.

 

[trfjason]

Apple's market share in computers in Hong Kong is not that big, which explains why there hasn't been an Apple Store in Hong Kong. But the success of iPhone and iPad is making Apple a more popular brand. It will be nice if they open a store in HK, I don't like authorized resellers there, their services is no match for Apple Store.

 

[haruhiko]

Apple's Online Store and its authorized resellers in Hong Kong are really bad. They charge Apple's premium prices for all products including 3rd party cases but they don't care about their customers.

 

[bniu]

with my cousin moving to Shenzhen, I now have another reason to visit Hong Kong. One of these days, I'm going to arrange a visit with her where I fly into Hong Kong, meet up with her for lunch, visit the apple store with her and buy an unlocked iPhone, have dinner with her, and then fly back to the US. Bank the frequent flyer miles and get the unlocked iPhone!

 

[spetzco]

If you travel to HK, be sure to fly with Cathay Pacific....amazing service.

 

[Mr Fusion]

I just walked by this storefront a few nights ago, seemed odd it was all closed off. Now I know, sweet!

 

[FilipH]

That's precisely why it took this long. Real property is forbiddingly expensive in Hong Kong, even for highly profitable stores like the store. Also Hong Kong has the most sophisticated Commercial/Residential space integration, and shopping malls are so well managed that they never run out of tenants. Trying to clear a 25k sq ft space in a prime location is extremely costly and close to impossible, if not for the reputation of the Apple Store.

You are hitting the nail on the head with your statement. 100% true.

Having lived in HK, it is crazy crazy expensive for commercial real estate.

The IFC is the best possible location, but the rent per square foot will be one of the highest of any of their shops in the world. The fact that they were able to secure a big location at the IFC has definitely something to do with the apple brand. I'm looking forward to visit them here

 

[Zeiss]

you can buy an apple product anywhere in Hong Kong (even the local street vendor can sell you an iPhone). I was always surprised that there was no Apple Store in HK, but it is one of the easiest places in the world to buy istuff.

 

[arahlen]

Doesn't anybody find it a little bit strange that this location is less than 50 meters away from DG Lifestyle, an apple premium reseller?
Sure, IFC is a great location for an apple store, but is apple out to kill off its current resellers?

 

[marmiteturkey]

Doesn't anybody find it a little bit strange that this location is less than 50 meters away from DG Lifestyle, an apple premium reseller?
Sure, IFC is a great location for an apple store, but is apple out to kill off its current resellers?

Not deliberately - but if a reseller gets caught in the crossfire, so be it.

I've had great service from the Apple guys up in Causeway Bay - bought my first ever iPod and then a Powerbook 12 from them. But it's high time HK had a corporate presence.

 

[marmiteturkey]

Yup, just installed 4.3 on my O2 contract; the hotspot button takes me to the 'buy the tethering bolt-on' page.

If I didn't have my unlimited data grandfathered from a couple of years ago, I would be moving on...

 

[gpcovenant]

I walked by yesterday and they have signs up saying the store will open Qtr 4 this year. Does not mention that its an apple store though.