Second Chicago Apple Store

A location has been chosen for the site of Apple's second retail store in Chicago, a city publication reports. The company has cemented a $700,000 annual lease for land at the corner of North, Clybourn and Halsted, formerly the home of a gas station. In doing so Apple should be able to build a shop measuring some 15,000 square feet, designed by local firm and frequent Apple partner Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

Apple last year turned down a deal for a State Street store associated with Block 37, in spite of of what business groups describe as the potential for "around-the-clock" foot traffic. The new location is however within another high-profile shopping district, the Clybourn Corridor, home to stores such as the Gap, Ethan Allen, Best Buy and Whole Foods. The only significant concern is said to be the stability of some Clybourn businesses; Borders is now looking to sublease its store, while Z Gallerie has pulled out of the area entirely.

by MacNN Staff