Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Rumors
Boston's flagship Apple Store moving to Newbury Street?
NYC has its
cube, and Boston has...rumors and red
tape.* When Apple first announced their
intentions to build a huge retail store right in downtown Boston (Back Bay area), I was very excited. A flagship store
right in the city! Soon a sketch of
the proposed Boylston Street design emerged, as did the ire of Boston's Back Bay Architectural
Commission (BBAC), who were none too pleased with the
store's decidedly modern facade.Today, ifoAppleStore is reporting that the massive building that has housed the Virgin Megastore on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Newbury Street for the past several years will close in the summer of 2007 to make way for a new, "...upscale retailer." I can tell you that this is a huge (larger than any existing Apple Store), gorgeous building in a very pedestrian-friendly, upscale shopping district of Boston, and only a few blocks away from the site of their original proposal. Using this property would also keep the BBAC at bay (as it were).
Here's hoping this comes true, as this is a wonderful building in an even better location.
*Not that I keep track of the NYC/Boston rivalry or anything.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben Gold said 4:06PM on 5-01-2006
this is where I thought the store should have been in the first place, well no in that building exactly but on newbury street anyway. I still thik that the original location is where it will end up. do you think they will close the southshore store?
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JV said 4:23PM on 5-01-2006
They won't close any existing stores. I promise. And 2007 is too far away! That building won't be an Apple Store. They're not going to give up quite that easily on the Boylston location...
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Matte said 4:44PM on 5-01-2006
I worked in that building. Only the first 2 floors are store. Used to be a Tower and then bitterly the landlord stole it out from under them and gave it to Virgin. It's a really odd space as there's an entrance to the T there. I can't see it fitting with the fairly standardized/modular design of Apple stores. But it would certainly be close for the Berkeley School of Music kids...
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Gerald Buckley said 4:50PM on 5-01-2006
That would be so huge! I had the good fortune to train up for OSX Server 10.4 in Boston in November. Even bought my 17" PowerBook while I was there (at the mall store)... I would LOVE to see a monster store there for a lot of reasons :)
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Aron said 4:56PM on 5-01-2006
It's incredibly close to Berkeley. Also, if you look at the stores nearby, they're all right in Apple's targeted demographic. I think it's a fantastic location, much better than Back Bay. Plus, you have all of the walking dollar bills coming down Newbury. Which actually reminds me. It's not like Apple doesn't have the capital to rent/purchase a space on Newbury or Boylston. Just my two cents. Ciao!
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Sparky said 5:08PM on 5-01-2006
That building's actually an early Frank Gehry redesign (over an exisitng structure), a bit of pedigree Apple might use to justify going there instead of rebuilding elsewhere. I don't know that the space would suit their vibe, though, even if the location is still a good one for them.
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Hans said 5:34PM on 5-01-2006
Cool, I went to Berklee (!) a couple of years ago and yes, that building is a football field from the school.
This would actually be a reason to go back to Boston to see what else has changed. Hmmm... no I'm getting the blues for the time passed.
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Matt Hartsough said 6:47PM on 5-01-2006
This location is much less desireable than the Boylston, it is at the end of Newbury, in a less traveled area. Also, that corner isnt the safest corner in Boston.
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andrew said 7:16PM on 5-01-2006
#8, i agree completely. this location is not nearly as good as the boylston site. it's waaay down at the end of newbury, and most shoppers don't make it past exeter or fairfield. the boylston site would have been ideal-- not only is it next to the pru, but it is in an area that is going to really take off once the mandarin oriental hotel is built.
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Brendan said 7:45PM on 5-01-2006
Play this video!
http://www.360newbury.com/home/index.html
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Will said 10:32PM on 5-01-2006
speakin of apple stores.
Canada is about to get a second apple store at the eaton's centre in Toronto
more here (scroll down): http://www.torontoeatoncentre.com/store/index.ch2
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bufflo said 6:55AM on 5-02-2006
Hmm that's at the lowend section of Newbury. I doubt being close to Berklee would really matter much, but sitting right on top of the B-line (subway) probably could. There's always people moving in and out of that area, at most hours.
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Matt said 10:15AM on 5-02-2006
I don't think that's a good idea at all. If Apple wants high end, they're on the wrong end of Newbury St.
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