Monday, May 12,2008 @ 10:10am
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]