New Paris, Charlotte, Little Rock Apple Stores due on Sat.
updated 12:05 pm EDT, Tue August 23, 2011
Retail rush continues
Apple will once again open a round of new retail stores this weekend, says ifoAppleStore. Of the three opening this Saturday, the most important may be the Promenade at Chenal location in Little Rock, Arkansas. The state has never before had an Apple Store, even though Apple was listed as a forthcoming tenant at the Promenade as far back as 2007, before the mall's 2008 opening. Apple has at least a token presence in 44 US states; gaps are still present in Montana, Wyoming, Vermont, West Virginia and both Dakotas.
In France Apple is planning to launch its ninth store in the country. The outlet will be based within the Carré Sénart mall, south of Paris. A full four of Apple's French stores are situated in or around Paris, the flagships being the Opéra and Carrousel du Louvre locations.
Saturday's third opening is taking place in the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina. The city already has one other Apple Store, that being the SouthPark outlet.
Apple is currently in the middle of an unprecedented retail building spree. While some locations are being expanded or renovated, the company has also opened over a dozen new shops since June, and has set its sights on building 14 more by the end of September. The goal may be to prepare for both the holidays and the launch of the iPhone 5, expected in October.
