“Londoners were already starting to queue up Friday outside Apple’s newest retail outlet — in Covent Garden — its fourth in the city and its 300th worldwide,” Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune. “The grand opening is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. GMT.”
“This is an Apple Store for the record books. Largest and most expensive. Longest Genius Bar,” Elmer-DeWitt reports. “Biggest staff (300 employees).”
Elmer-DeWitt reports, “The entire Fifth Avenue store in New York City would fit inside its three-story central courtyard.”
Full article here.
Exterior (via ifoAppleStore):
Interior (via Electricpig):
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Still waiting for a retail store in Basrah.
Bigger is better.
There was a urban legend that Microsoft opened also retail stores… did some one ever hear or see a Microsoft retail store?
@HMCIV – Basrah? Wow. So, do you mean “a retail store” of any kind, or an Apple store?
Kidding. I don’t know what the status of Basrah is these days. I hope it’s re-building and becoming a safe place for our people there, and for theirs. Are you there as a civilian or military?
As for hundreds lining up for a new Apple store… I mean, yeah, I really like Apple, but man, can’t the cult thing subside now? It’s just a friggin’ store!
Im going to london “””WWWWEEEEE””” That store looks incredible … 300th store Apple is on the right track ….. Lets see the copy cats try it. Idiots at Google, Idiots at HTC, Idiots at Microsoft.
@Troy – yes, I have. Unfortunately. All that money Ballmer spent on his beloved big-ass table went to a $50K machine that just plays Pong.
The store (Mission Viejo, CA) is a mess, a sorry attempt at copying Apple.
Covent Garden may be a tourist trap but it’s a very fun place to spend the day while visiting London.
I wonder what store (or stores) were in there before Apple.
Did they go out of business or did someone just make them an offer they couldn’t refuse?
Despite what James Holland said in the video, most Apple stores do NOT have glass stair cases.
The majority of us little people just shop in regular Apple stores.
@aka Christian,
I think you know it’s more than just a regular store. From what I’ve seen (i’ve never gone to any Apple store openings), they look to be very entertaining and fun, and there’s something to be said for the energy of all those enthusiastic people being together. So, while it might not be something you or I would do, it harms no one and adds a little sparkle to the world that can never get enough.
–Ron
@The Other Steve
The 300th AppleStore site in Covent Garden, London, England was previously occupied by Rock Garden restaurant.
http://www.rockgarden.co.uk/london/restaurant/index.asp
At least, if you search the history of Rock Garden you will find that the business did not exactly go out of business.
@Ron – Valid points about the stores, because I have been in a couple here in the Twin Cities, and they are great places to stand around and play with gadgets and get questions answered. In fact, they are packed all of the time, even when the rest of the mall is dead. One has to wait around a while to get one of the many employees to find time to answer questions or ring up purchases on their super-cool iPod touch portable registers. (For the record, I detest malls and only go when I absolutely need to.)
And while I agree that they are hurting no one by lining up to be the first to go in, it’s my opinion that they make themselves, and by association the rest of us Apple fans, seem like mindless sheep. Videos online of people taunting customers who are waiting in line for iPhones support this opinion.
@The Other Steve:
It’s a while since I visited that area but I think it was the Hard Rock Café
Macjammer:
You’re right it was the Rock Garden, not the Hard Rock – getting near pub time here….
@HCMIV,
Do you live in Basrah?
If so, what is that like?
Yes this is a great news story but I have one of my own. At 11:33 pm on August the 4th My wife and I welcome our second child into this world (my sixth). Used my Apple, Canon and JVC gear to capture the event.
I was there for the opening this morning! Wrote a post about it, if interested.