01/25/2007, 9:20pm, EST
Thursday, January 25th
Apple backs off third NYC retail location
"The team had to negotiate more than six separate transactions and explore the outer reaches of the New York City building code with help of several consultants," SL Green's chief investment officer told analysts during its third-quarter conference.
The planned store was located just west of Fifth Avenue and south of the company's flagship Fifth Avenue Store location, which welcomed its one millionth visitor in mid-September. The comapny's Apple Store SoHo welcomed its five millionth visitor in April of last year.
Apple had doubts about the compatibility of its leading-edge image with that of middle-America 34th St., at least as it currently stands, the report claims. Despite neighbors such as Gap, American Eagle Outfitters, and Forever 21, Apple was turned off by the third-rate tourist merchants and rip-off artists, according to one retail broker quoted by the publication: "Unfortunately, a lot of the old 34th St.--third-rate tourist merchants and rip-off artists--still remain."
Retail experts, however, said that the store would have been profitable, but fears of a tarnished image have moved Apple sights elsewhere. The same article notes that Home Depot also abandoned plans for a store in Manhattan.
"That both Home Depot and Apple had the moxie to make major commitments to these extremely promising stores, but in the end were unable to follow through, speaks volumes about the challenges facing anyone in the search for a new way forward."
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While I'd love "near Columbia" I doubt it would ever happen, there just aren't enough yuppies up here. BUT Columbus Circle area would be very interesting. The Time Warner building is very much a destination location for the upscale and the whole west side could very well contain the highest concentration of Mac users in Manhattan. SoHo and Fifth avenue tend to attract huge numbers of tourists, so they probably move a lot more Pods than computers, Columbus Circle would tend to attract far more real computer users; well, on second thought, they really are more interested in Pods a CE than actual computer users... so never mind!
A store at Columbus Circle makes no sense as it's only a 15 minute walk from the Fifth Avenue store and there's not nearly the sheer volume of foot traffic there.
Apple should stick with the 2 NYC stores they have now. They're both well situated and accessible from all the different subway lines.
There IS a Home Depot store in Manhattan. West 23d Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. It's been there at least 2 or 3 years.
Bad enough (for them) that they opened a location in Lake Grove. Ever been to Lake Grove? Nothing but illegal aliens and other charity cases. Expect it to close within 2 years.