Apple set to open first Boston store on Thursday
updated 10:10 am EDT, Mon May 12, 2008
Apple Boston store
Apple has confirmed that its first retail store in Boston will finally be opening this Thursday, May 15th. The store is located at 815 Boylston Street, and will throw open its doors at 6PM Eastern. As a promotional tool, some of the first customers to arrive will receive special-edition T-shirts and "other surprises." The first workshops are not scheduled until May 17th.
The Boston Globe writes that the location is Apple's 210th store, and has approximately 20,000 square feet of space divided between three floors; the first floor is reserved for Macs, while the second holds iPhones and iPods, and the third is devoted to the Genius Bar and training areas. Some 64 iPods and 104 Macs (notebooks and desktops) should be in stock at launch; the iPhone may in little to minimal quantities however, given rapidly declining stock in advance of an expected 3G iPhone announcement.
The Boston store has been controversial for several reasons, initially because of its long delay, but also because of its threat to Tech Superpowers, an Apple reseller located only 50 feet away from the official store. TSP founder Michael Oh says his company should remain in business however, as his clients are primarily professionals and corporations, where Apple tends to ignore them in favor of the average consumer.
[Second image courtesy of inkdesigner]
why so long?
05/12, 10:51am (1 reply) reply
That's incredible that it should take so long for Boston to get its first Apple Store. Anyone know what took so long?
climacs
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
Fix the headline!
05/12, 11:14am (1 reply) reply
The headline says Wednesday, story says Thursday. Thursday is correct.
climacs: According to a Boston Globe article, Apple chose that property very early on (2000, before even announcing they would have stores), but had to wait for the old lease to run out before even starting formal planning. I was surprised they didn't take the old Tower/Virgin location, as that just screamed Apple Store. But this location is also a good one.
mitchcohen
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
Why it took so long
05/12, 11:48am reply
Boston is a physically small city.
There is an Apple store about 1 mile away from the new location (in Cambridge), and another about 4 miles away (in Chestnut Hill). Both are easily accessible via the Boston subway system.
There are three other Apple stores within 15 miles of the new store, in Burlington, Braintree and Peabody.
Jittery Jimmy
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Joined: Jan 2006
closer to Boston
05/12, 03:24pm reply
[Both are easily accessible via the Boston subway system.]
If you want to walk. Cambridgeside is reasonable but Chestnut Hill store is easily a half mile from the Green Line stop. The Boston store will be right on the subway line, just a block up from Copley.
Loren
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2001
"Remain in business"?!?!
05/12, 06:35pm reply
Wow, they make it sound like going out of business for us (Tech Superpowers) was even considered.
We've been psyched about this store going in from pretty much the moment we heard about it. Perhaps a bit apprehensive, but honestly as one of the Directors over at TSP, I don't see this as anything other than a HUGE opportunity. Apple is going gangbusters, and that helps us. We're HUGE Apple/Mac-heads, and this helps that too.
We do Onsite Service, Sales, and Warranty service, among many other things, a giant Apple logo nearby just helps things, as I see it. Could it hurt us? Mebbe, but change is part of life, and I plan on being there Thursday night!
W. Ian Blanton
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2002
proximity
05/14, 10:52am reply
the Bethesda store is perhaps 3 blocks from an indie store and it hasn't seemed to hurt them, in fact i believe them to be a bit busier these days. don't know that for a fact though.
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Shots from opening day
05/16, 07:34am reply
Here are a few shots of "opening day" the Apple Store on Boylston Street. We were quite impressed with the energy of the staff and crowd. The central staircase is simply stunning. A great addition to Boston.
RainyDayInterns
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Joined: May 2008