Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Odds and ends, Deals
Apple will spend $4 million to renovate Chicago's North/Halsted triangle
Technically, I've now moved away from Chicago and am living in Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean I'm not still following the brand new Apple store being built at the intersection of North and Halsted in Chicago -- not only is that my old stomping grounds (I used to be a manager at that Borders), but hearing about and seeing the old place makes me a little nostalgic for that toddlin' town I left only a month and a half or so ago. And there's good news for Chicagoans just south of that Clybourne Corridor neighborhood. Apple will be spending a cool $4 million to redevelop the entire triangle, including that dirty old Red Line station sitting there as well (you can't tell, but the pic above is the old gas station that used to be there, with the train station in the background.
In exchange (c'mon, this is Chicago, you didn't think they'd be doing it for free, did you?), Apple gets first naming rights for the station ("iStop" jumps to mind), as well as the chance at advertising in there for 10 years to come, with four more five-year options. But even with those conditions, this is actually great news for that whole area -- it's been on the cusp of getting really busy (it's just a city block north of the old derelict Cabrini Green neighborhood) for a while now, and an Apple store with a brand new El stop certainly won't hurt. I'll have to make sure and take a trip back -- they're saying the triangular store could be open as soon as Fall 2010. There's an excellent Italian place just under the Brown line track across from the Steppenwolf just north on Halsted, too. Ah, memories.
In exchange (c'mon, this is Chicago, you didn't think they'd be doing it for free, did you?), Apple gets first naming rights for the station ("iStop" jumps to mind), as well as the chance at advertising in there for 10 years to come, with four more five-year options. But even with those conditions, this is actually great news for that whole area -- it's been on the cusp of getting really busy (it's just a city block north of the old derelict Cabrini Green neighborhood) for a while now, and an Apple store with a brand new El stop certainly won't hurt. I'll have to make sure and take a trip back -- they're saying the triangular store could be open as soon as Fall 2010. There's an excellent Italian place just under the Brown line track across from the Steppenwolf just north on Halsted, too. Ah, memories.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jared said 10:53AM on 10-27-2009
Nice store ya got here...be a shame if anything happened to it.
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jb510 said 10:53AM on 10-27-2009
Does this mean you'll be able to swipe your iPhone to pay or L fare?
Seriously I find it mildly disturbing when private companies are paying for basic infrastructure maintence... but I'm sure it all makes financial sense to Apple. Buy a cheap location and fix it up what's around it rather than an expensive location in a well taken care of area. As much as I love apple I don't look forward to "corporate branded" public transit stations. Yuk.
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SIP said 12:56PM on 10-27-2009
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/26/apple_to_spend_4_million_on_chicago_subway_station_renovations.html
Apple has reportedly agreed to spend more than $4 million to renovate a Chicago subway station adjacent to a future Apple Store site, and also earned the right of first refusal to name the public transit stop.
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Apple and the CTA reached an agreement in August for the $4 million in renovations. Per the terms of the deal, Apple has a right of first refusal to buy naming rights for the property, as well first offer on all advertising in the station. The new Red Line stop will reportedly have seven lighted ad displays.
The renovations will retain the 1940s-era look of the brick station. The CTA is projected to face a budget deficit of $178 million next year, and is turning to alternative revenue methods, such as naming rights, to offset losses.
Trancedbhouse said 1:19PM on 10-27-2009
As long as the city makes them keep it like it is with not that much branding. I mean you already see advertisements for major companies already. I am all for apple to advertise on a wall that you walk by, or for them to have an entrance to the store from the current building. We need more of this in America.
I am not about having "The Apple Chicago Public Library East" or "The John Smith Law office Chicago Municipal Court" But I am for an Apple Logo on The stop label or a Microsoft logo on the bus stop sign. The city planning department should set regulations as to what can go on or in the building.
marcintosh said 11:05AM on 10-27-2009
There's a better view of what it looks like now on Goggle Street View.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=north+and+halsted,+chicago+il&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.04407,56.865234&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=W+North+Ave+&ll=41.91093,-87.648013&spn=0.022963,0.027766&z=15&layer=c&cbll=41.91093,-87.648139&panoid=Z12XGqV9MsSHcILAtkpSqg&cbp=12,225.37,,0,5
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HD Boy said 3:12PM on 10-27-2009
It looks like a Verizon wireless is across the street. Is the property the triangular slice seen from Google Maps satellite view? The one that seems to house a Pizza Ria?
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aMp 732 said 12:24PM on 10-27-2009
Cabrini Green isnt that where they fimed Candy Man the horror movie.
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mark said 11:57AM on 10-27-2009
I have been wondering why in the h*** Apple was putting a store there. I guess if you are going to spend millions cleaning up the neighborhood too then it might just help. I know about Cabrini Green all too well, I was born and raised in the suburbs during the height of that insanity.
I guess Apple could always have a valet lot and they watch your car while you shop if the spruce up doesn't help...
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brian said 12:02PM on 10-27-2009
An Apple store near Cabrini-Green? Good Times! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
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Daniel Umansky said 12:04PM on 10-27-2009
I used to Valet @ Bub City!
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t68usa said 12:13PM on 10-27-2009
Folks, the photo above may not show it, but the location for this new store hardly qualifies as a "bad neighborhood." For several years, the Clybourn corridor has become more and more congested with many large retail chains (Whole Foods, Restoration Hardware, Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, and many more). So many people shop there, that traffic is virtually impossible and the area has become one of the worst examples of "urban sprawl" i have ever seen. Having an Apple store on North/Clybourn will only add to the already congested and over-built area. Oh well, I guess it will encourage us Chicagoans to use public transport to shop at the Apple store...
Side note: Apple was originally going to locate this store in the Loop (downtown) but they were actually swayed to build it on Halsted/North/Clybourn because the Loop is "...playing to a slightly lower socio-economic group than North and Clybourn," according to a local developer.
Read more about it here:
http://chicagoist.com/2009/10/26/apple_angles_in_on_cta_deal.php
...and here:
http://chicagoist.com/2009/04/13/for_apple_north_clybourn_block_37.php
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SIP said 12:51PM on 10-27-2009
Every morning and several times during the day, I go to this website:
http://www.innermindmedia.com/apple_news.html
It lists news headlines at TUAW, MacRumors, Macworld US and AppleInsider.
TUAW has been at least 24-hours late on reporting a number of news items this week.
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Odineye said 10:06PM on 10-27-2009
This isn't Headline News. No one with an actual life cares if TUAW reported this later than the other sites you list.
If you have so little else to occupy your free time than to police the response time of a blog it may be time to get out of your Mom's basement and get some fresh air.
Jon said 1:03PM on 10-27-2009
My vote is for Grand Central Dispatch. :D
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Nick said 2:06PM on 10-27-2009
"Clybourn" (no "e").
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pjones said 3:39PM on 10-27-2009
Just drove past the construction site a couple nights ago (en route to grab some Goose Island brew), and it still has a long way to go. Having an Apple store right by a train station will be great! Glad they're fixing up the Red Line station, though. It needs it. And @t68usa, indeed this is not a bad neighborhood. The rich folks around Cabrini Green were the supporters of the massive drug problems and thus financial supporters of gang activity... so that's where the bad rap comes from. But yes, those days have passed. And the traffic is quite busy there during rush periods.
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SCOTT said 4:14PM on 10-27-2009
well from what I know about Chicago...isn't Halsted where all the gay bars and establishments are...
and if I am correct which I know to be true...gays ADORE macs...I know I do
hehe...so if I am correct on my first part of my comment...then it's a perfect place to build an apple store...
gotta love it
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haseebo said 4:36PM on 10-27-2009
Yes, it's the triangular slice between Halsted, Clyborn and North Ave. Yes, it's sorta close to Cabrini but don't let that fool you -- it's a safe little intersection in the middle of one of the near North Side's most popular/crowded retail areas.
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oriste said 6:00PM on 10-27-2009
I think "Infinite Loop" would be an awesome name for that station. ;-)
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Zach S said 10:28PM on 10-27-2009
This'll be cool- good place for an Apple store, as the area surrounding the station has become kind of an upscale shopping hotspot (I've only been there for Best Buy, and Circuit City before they shut down, but hey!). That El stop really is pretty shabby, and it'll be good to see it renovated. Only thing is- they'll probably have to shut the station down for a bit while they work on it which SUCKS majorly.
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