Spanish paper identifies second Barcelona store location
updated 04:40 pm EDT, Wed September 29, 2010
Could cost Apple $5.1 million per year
A Spanish newspaper, La Vanguardia, says it has confirmed the location of a second Apple Store to be built in Barcelona. A lease has reportedly been signed for a 27,000 square-foot space at 1 Paseo de Grącia, located within the city's center. The building was founded in the late 1800s, and features apartments on its upper levels. One corner is noted to face Catalunya Square, making the structure extremely visible.
Apple's space is said to have a 21-foot ceiling on the main level, and enough room for a basement, mezzanine and third floor. It was formerly occupied by a bank, but has been empty since 2003 as companies have been unwilling to commit to leases as long as 15 years or more. The Apple deal is claimed to involve a 10-year lease, worth $5.1 million a year.
Protesters in fact appeared outside the building today, complaining that apartment rents in the area have doubled during the last seven years. When exactly the Apple Store might open is unknown, but a launch is expected sometime in 2011.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2010
New Apple Store
I happen to be vacationing in Barcelona, and my hotel is just a few hundred meters from the site pictured. It is in the PlaƧa de Catalunya, which is the central square just above La Rambla. It is an area that is nearly 100% tourists. There was a one-day general strike across Spain on Wednesday, and the building pictured was one that was defaced by protestors. The words spray-painted on the building, in Catalan, say in effect "This is not a crisis, it is called capitalism." The strikers were protesting economic austerity measures. There is a statue nearly where someone spray-painted "Muerte al estado" ("death to the state"). All transport was shut down for the day and a police car was torched. Things were back to normal by Thursday, but I'd expect that Apple would like to get the building cleaned up before they move in.