05/12/2008, 10:10am, EDT
Monday, May 12th
Apple set to open first Boston store on Thursday
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]
Filed under: Apple
Other story tags: retail, Boston, Tech Superpowers
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why so long?
That's incredible that it should take so long for Boston to get its first Apple Store. Anyone know what took so long?
Fix the headline!
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.
Why it took so long
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.
closer to Boston
[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.
"Remain in business"?!?!
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!
proximity
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.
Shots from opening day
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.