High profile Apple Retail Store to open in Chicago this Friday

Apple will open its first high profile retail store in downtown Chicago, at 679 North Michigan Avenue, tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. CDT. “In just two years Apple has changed the face of computer retailing and we are now bringing that experience to one of the best shopping streets in the
U.S. — North Michigan Avenue in Chicago,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO in the press release.

The Apple Store North Michigan Avenue will feature:
– an Internet cafe where visitors can check email and use Apple’s new iChat AV and iSight digital video cameras to video conference with friends and family;
– a class Studio that overlooks an eco-friendly greenroof garden;
– a forty-foot long Genius Bar, one of the most popular sections of Apple retail stores, where anyone can ask the Mac “Genius” questions, connect to the Mac community or receive service;
– more than 300 customer events every month including new “Genius Bar Unplugged” technical sessions taught at the Genius Bar and a Studio Series of hands-on classes*;
– “solution centers” for music, photography and movies, where visitors can learn about the latest Apple solutions for digital photography, music and movies including the iTunes(R) Music Store and ultra-portable iPods;
– an expanded kids section with seven computer stations connected to the Internet;
– a software section with hundreds of software titles for the Mac; and
– a 48-seat theater, where customers can watch demonstrations of Apple’s latest innovations, take classes and attend “Made on a Mac” events.

Apple opened its first retail store in May 2001 and currently has 58 stores in 26 states in the U.S. Since Apple opened its first retail store in May 2001, Apple retail stores have hosted more than 17 million visitors.

A complete schedule of North Michigan Avenue store events and classes is available here.