A large balcony on the upper level overlooks product tables below.
The building’s public areas span two floors at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 58th St. As of publication, the store remains open and is Apple’s most significant temporary retail project to date. In its place, a gigantic temporary store opened next door in the former home of toy store FAO Schwarz.
#Apple store hours walt whitman mall windows#
Later, the logos were removed and the windows were entirely covered.īefore the redesigned store reopened on October 15, 2016, Apple closed its temporary location during final restoration work, and a towering wall was constructed around the historic building for the remaining months.Īpple first announced in early 2017 that its iconic Fifth Avenue glass cube store in New York City would be closing for renovations. The building’s four signature arched windows were covered by inset white panels, allowing the lighted Apple logos and window displays to remain. It was this underground space that handled the launch of the iPhone 6s. Later, the entire second floor was closed.īy early September, Apple had entirely closed the main store to the public, building a small entrance just inside the front door with a staircase leading downstairs. Beginning in June 2015, half of the store’s first floor was walled off, requiring customers to enter on the right side of the building. Regent Street’s short-term space took many forms throughout construction. With standard white walls, wood floors, and a blacked out ceiling, the basement store was consistent with smaller temporary spaces design-wise, but considerably larger than average in terms of floor space. Photos: courtesy of Storeteller Apple Regent Streetĭuring a monumental and extensive Foster + Partners redesign of London’s Regent Street store, Apple built a temporary space underneath the regular store as to not inconvenience customers. When SoHo’s regular store reopened nearly one year later, it had been completely redesigned with a new Genius Bar and Briefing Room, updated glass staircase, and an expanded theater. The space featured an industrial, upscale warehouse interior design with exposed brick walls, a wood and steel staircase, and Corinthian columns. Due to the extended length of remodeling and the popularity of the store, Apple chose to open a massive temporary location nearby at 72 Greene St.
#Apple store hours walt whitman mall upgrade#
New York City’s first Apple store, SoHo, originally opened in 2002 and was due for a big upgrade nearly a decade later. Seldom well-documented in photos or writing, we’ve scoured the archives to catalog each temporary store and recognize an overlooked retail craft.įew flagship Apple stores have ever operated out of temporary spaces, but those that have are among Apple’s most ambitious projects and needed to be equipped to handle significant foot traffic. Overshadowed by the splendor of an all-new store, they’re forgotten almost as quickly as they were realized, slipping into the pages of history. When remodeling is complete, these short-term spaces vanish literally overnight. Apple spares little expense to provide the best experience they can even under cramped or less-than-ideal circumstances. Signage and branding remain consistent and of similar quality to full-size stores. Identical tables and fixtures are built for each space. Even though both their construction time and useful life are short, temporary stores attempt to provide a familiar retail atmosphere. Yet, these makeshift spaces reveal Apple’s extraordinary attention to detail. The spaces are strictly meant to bridge the gap during a store redesign and aren’t celebrated. Temporary stores often pop up with little notice or fanfare. In locations without nearby alternatives or where construction work is estimated to be time-consuming, Apple has implemented temporary stores to ease the transition. As Apple’s stores have steadily grown in popularity over the past 17 years, renovations and expansions to keep up with increased traffic have necessitated temporary closures from time to time. Closures mean lost sales, disruptions to service, and a negative customer experience.
No retailer wants to close a store - even temporarily.
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