June 9th, 2007
I bussed it downtown this morning for the opening of Apple’s newest store. I arrived about an hour before the store opened and was surprised to find only a few people hanging out around the store’s Higuera Street entrance.
Once I turned the corner onto Morro Street, I found a line of people cued up halfway down the street. So, I went and joined them.
My place in line wound up being right in front of the store’s receiving door. There was pretty regular movement through here by the store’s employees.
While waiting in line, we were handed out Sweepstakes Entry Forms for a drawing that will be held at the store tomorrow. I heard that the grand prize is a MacBook, iPod and training sessions at the store. Don’t know if that’s true.
When it was time for the store to officially open, the employees (literally) ran out of the receiving door, clapping, cheering and offering high-fives to the customers in line. Then they entered the store through the front doors and lined up around the fringes of the store’s interior. The revelry continued until all of the customers were inside.
Here’s a bunch of photos from the inside of the Apple Store:
As is the tradition with all new Apple Stores, the first 1,000 customers who came to Higuera Street received free T-shirts. The shirts come in small boxes sealed with Apple logos.
The shirt itself is black and simply says “Higuera Street” on the front, along with an Apple logo.
The back of the shirt reads “Designed by Apple in California.” (I took a photo of the shirt back, but it didn’t come out in such a way that you could actually see the words.) The shirt is a little too small for me, and it’s too big for Jen. I haven’t decided yet what to do with it. Maybe I’ll post it on eBay and see how much the Apple fanatics will put up for it.
I know I’ve expressed some negative feelings in the past about Apple opening this store. And I still think it sucks that the corporate store may affect the established reseller. But it’s obvious that Apple is here to stay. Hopefully, the market is big enough to keep both shops in business. Only time will tell. (Please Digg and Pop! this entry.)
(Photos also available through Flickr.)
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June 9th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
The Apple Fanatics just might give you enough to buy a new computer, lol. I was told last year at the Apple Store that I wasn’t allowed to take pictures in the store! Bastards! Oh well. Like it REALLY matters.
June 9th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
That’s pretty lame. But, there were lots of people there today with all kinds of cameras. Including “traditional” media. They would’ve had a hard time keeping people from filming/photographing.
June 10th, 2007 at 5:35 am
So, they dont have the cute pink ones anymore?
June 10th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
shawn- you remember me, i still have your old blue imac happily playing itunes here in cambria. i sure would love to have that pretty t-shirt. i don’t have anything to offer but my loyalty as one of your podcast listeners. & i’ll be in slo on 7/7 at b&n when richard (you remember him) has a book signing for his new novel, the haunting of cambria, & i’m sure he’ll write something cool if you should like to buy it (she hints shamelessly). so, how ’bout it shawno… deal or no deal? …& you know you love apple!
June 11th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Hope: They haven’t made those “flavored” iMacs in a long time.
Jackie: I’ve decided to hold onto the shirt for now (unless they really are selling for mad prices on eBay). If I lose some weight, the shirt will fit. Of course, that’s a big “if.” And me and Jen will be in Minnesota on the day of Richard’s signing. Otherwise, I’d definitely come out and say hi!
June 19th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Hey there, I listen to your Hypernonsense podcast.
Anyways, why in the hell were they clapping like crazed monkeys? Because a new computer store opened? Fanboys unite, I guess? That seemed pretty gay to me. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
I forgot to add that while I’m not a huge Apple fan myself (though I learned to program Basic & PASCAL on my 1st computer, an Apple ][ back in 1981), that I think it’s a damn shame that new Ipod, err, Apple store is going to eventually drive our local mom-n-pop Mac Store on Higuera out of business. SLO Locals shouldn’t be cheering that IMO.
June 20th, 2007 at 2:18 am
I think the clapping was done mainly by store employees. There were a lot of them on-hand for the opening. Though, I guess most of the employees are locals. Anyway, as I stated in the original entry, maybe there’ll be enough business in our local markets to keep Mac Superstore open. I hope so.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:56 am
Me too. We have enough corporate chainstores coming into SLO driving locals out of business. It’s especially hard when the corporate store is willing to absorb a loss for a long time until the competition folds.
June 23rd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Okay, let’s be fair. I still say there’s room for both, but the Apple Store has more to offer & better hours. So, Shawn or Zuke, why not go over to the MacSuperstore & take pictures there. Show their selection of products, their staff, ask some questions about something specific (“How do I sync my new iPhone with my pc?”) – let’s compare & see why (I still beleive) we not only want but need the Apple Store. Whadya say boys?
June 23rd, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Comparing the stores is a great idea, Jackie. The next time I have a reason to buy something that both stores should carry, I’ll do it. I don’t think I’ll take any pictures at Mac Superstore, though. The only reason I did that for the Apple Store is because of the Grand Opening, and the fact that having them on my site would draw in some extra FanBoy traffic (which it has).
June 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
no, no, no… you’re missing the point. let’s say someone wnats to switch from a pc to a mac (god bless them), but they’re not sure which model is right for what they need to do. maybe they need help picking the right software. or maybe they just want to check out the new iPhone this week (i do). whatever. my point is that the MacSuperstore (& i HAVE done business with them) just doesn’t have the selection of products or the staff to compare with the Apple Store. & let’s say you wanted to check out an iPod today (sunday) — the MacSuperstore is closed, but the Apple Store is open & waiting to help you!
June 24th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
There’s no doubt that having the Apple Store here will help to “spread the Apple religion.” And as a fan of Apple products, I see nothing wrong with that. And furthermore, as a consumer, I think it’s great to have an many retail outlets/options as possible for the products I want to buy. I just think it’s lousy that Apple brought itself into a market where its presence would have a direct effect on a local, established business. And there’s no way they couldn’t have known that before they decided to open this store.