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Filed under: Apple Corporate

Huge Apple ads ruffle feathers in Boston

Last week I was in Boston and drove past the ad pictured at right, as I have done many times. Even though it first went up in 2007, I still think, "Man, that is a big ad."

Boston's Outdoor Advertising Board agrees.

Two years ago, they declared the 13,750 square-foot monstrosity illegal because of its size. Yet it's still in place. Last June, the groups behind the advertising agreed to pay the state $110,000 as a settlement, according to The Boston Globe.

Now, according to the Globe, there's a political backlash. It seems that the settlement was reached with some "help" given to a business person from a campaign aide from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's office. The same acquaintance reportedly has made annual donations to the Mayor's office since 2005.

The owners argue that the ad promotes sales inside the self-storage business just behind the huge wall, where customers can buy iTunes gift cards.

The ad space first went into use 6 months before Apple opened the flagship retail store on Boylston Street.

[Via iPodNN]

Photo: Yoon S. Byun, The Boston Globe

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Apple

Apple among "10 most overrated brands"

Boston.com has produced a list of the 10 Most Overrated Brands. Apple is at number nine. How so? According to Boston.com, it's the hype that sustains us.

"...while Apple has made its name combining sharp design with great technology, the brand's true appeal comes from the fact that consumers are hooked on the hype."

Us? Succumb to the hype? It's not like we post pictures of empty boxes, sleep on the street or buy Steve Jobs Lego figures. I agree that the fanatical devotion of what Boston.com calls "the iCult" gets way out hand. Is any phone worth three nights on a New York City street? Of course not. But ask those folks why they're there, and they'll tell you it's the fun of hanging out with like-minded Mac geeks.

While Apple hypes their products, it's often the fanboys who push it over the edge. For me, that doesn't detract from the fact that they deliver great products.

Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple

Grab a piece of Apple history, for charity

The Boylston Street Apple Store opening in Boston was entertainment for all, especially Bostonians. The unveiling was almost as much fun as the facade. Among the souvenirs floating around, at least one is worthy of special note, as the sale of it will benefit more than just the lucky buyer.

Rescued from the dumpster and lovingly restored (to the best of the seller's ability, anyway), a chunk of the Apple logo that stood front and center on the "Green Monster" facade is up on eBay. All of the proceeds from the auction will be going to boston2portland, a bike ride to raise money for the cure of Parkinson's disease. You might not need a monolithic, duct-tape-textured, decorative piece of Apple history. But, maybe you'll bid for the benefit of a worthy cause and pass the spoils on to someone with too many bare walls, a love of all things Apple and very fond feelings for Fenway Park.

Check out the auction here.

Filed under: Humor, Retail, Apple History

Boston's Tech Superpowers buries a treasure for Apple

This is my favorite story of the week. Major League Baseball fans probably remember the New York construction worker who buried a David Oritz jersey underneath the New York Yankees stadium in an attempt to jinx the team. It seems he unwittingly started a trend.

On Thursday, Apple's newest retail store will open in Boston with a small gift from neighboring store Tech Superpowers buried underneath the sidewalk.

Back in April, Michael Oh (Tech Superpowers founder and president) crossed the street to the Apple Store's construction site with a shovel and one of his company's T-Shirts. A short time later, the shirt was buried underneath the concrete, where it remains today. Since the story of the Ortiz jersey was breaking at the time, the members of the construction crew thought the idea was funny, and let him do his thing.

Oh points out that he isn't trying to jinx the store, but create a connection between the two retailers.

"We're doing it with a wink ... We are in business because of the great things Apple has done ... This T-shirt in the sidewalk is a symbol that there's a connection between the two sides of the alley." It was Oh who set up the Boston Apple Store Webcam at ifoAppleStore to share the construction process with Apple fans everywhere.

We can only imagine what's next
  • Burger King buries a cardboard crown under each new McDonald's
  • Dunkin Donuts leaves a bag of French Vanilla under each new Starbucks
So when you visit the store this weekend, tread lightly. You might be standing on a buried treasure.

[Via Andy Ihnatko's Twitter stream]

Filed under: Retail

Boston's Apple Store to open May 16

We've been following the story of Boston's upcoming Apple Store for a long time, and now it's scheduled to open on Friday, May 16th at 6:00 PM. Yes, I'll be there. Say "Hi."

When complete, it will be the ninth store in Massachusetts and certainly the largest ... or will it?

According to Gizmodo, the Boylston St. store will be the largest of all Apple retail stores. Citing "a store employee," Giz reports that an average 1,500-2000 customers/hour will visit the store.

Not so fast, Giz! Our friend Gary at ifoAppleStore shared this tidbit of information with us:

"...the [Boylston Street] lot is only 6,384 square-feet, so the store would have to be at least five stories to be larger than Regent Street (London), at 28,000 s.f."

At four stories high, it cannot be declared the biggest. Sorry, Boston. What we can say is that it opens soon and it's very, very big.

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Cult of Mac, Apple

First pics of the Boston Apple Store


Our Boston-based buddy, Chad Barraford, sent us in some pics of Apple's new Boylston Street store. Located across the street from The Prudential Center in Boston's upscale Back Bay, this will be the ninth store located in Massachusetts. Apple didn't just create a bland façade to cover the construction, they made it look like Fenway Park's "Green Monster." Now that this is starting to sound like a real estate sales pitch, let's show you some pictures.


Thanks, Chad!

Filed under: Retail

Apple logo installed at Boston's future Apple Store

We're getting closer, Bostonians. The flagship Apple Store that we've been anticipating for more than a year is starting to resemble an Apple Store.

The folks at ifoAppleStore have a live webcam pointed towards the construction, and Flickr user kokernutz has posted a shot of the shrouded logo.

This store is on Boylston Street, directly across the street from The Prudential Center in Boston's upscale Back Bay. This will be the ninth store in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the first in Beantown. It's been suggested that it will open in May. I'll be there!

Filed under: Retail

Construction continues on Boston's future Apple Store

When Apple opens Boston's flagship Apple Store on Boylston street, it's going to be huge - both literally and figuratively. ifoAppleStore has had a webcam pointed at the construction site for months now, and today's image is impressive.

The building looks like it extends from Boylston street to Newbury street behind it, making me wonder if it will have an entrance on either end (check out the overhead photo).

This store is scheduled to open in 2008. Oh yes, I'll be there.

Filed under: Retail

Apple UK looking for retail employees

Apple is prepping several UK retail stores. A message on their website is calling for employees to fill slots in Brighton, Exeter, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Reading, Solihull and Thurrock. Of course, that means seven new stores have been planned for the UK.

Here in the US, four existing stores - Pentagon City (Virg.), Legacy Village (Ohio), Freehold Raceway (NJ) and Burlingame (CA) will be closed for renovations during the coming weeks.

Finally, workers have poured the foundation and installed some steel rebar at the site of Boston's future flagship store.

Thanks, Jon!

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Apple Store Boston progress

Construction is moving quickly on Boston's Apple Store, despite snow and very cold weather. If you visit the live web cam, you'll see that the old building is now completely gone. In fact, you can check out this cool time-lapse of work that was done yesterday (Feb. 26).

Of course, this will become more fun after demolition, when the new building is being constructed. I wonder if Apple will eventually block our view?

Filed under: Retail

Watch Apple Store Boston's construction live

If you're excited about Apple Store Boston (I sure am), then check out this webcam which will be providing live images of its construction. As of this writing, demolition has begun! Check back often to track the process of this year-long project.

As we say here in Massachusetts, "Wicked awesome."

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

More on Apple Store Boston

"It's not often that a retail construction project makes news..."

That's a quote from The Boston Globe regarding the Apple Store that's planned for Boston's Boylston Street. The store certainly has made news, as we've been writing about it for almost a year now. Apple had a hard time getting the design approved, and produced several revisions. Finally, it looks like it will be built this year. It looks stunning, and I think it'll be gorgeous directly across the street from The Prudential Building, one of the city's landmarks. I can't wait.

[Via ifoAppleStore]

Filed under: Retail, Rumors

Even more on the upcoming Boston Apple Store

We know what you're thinking: "Please, TUAW, not another story on the Apple Store that does not yet exist." Just bear with us. We know that the future Apple Store will be taking over what has been a CopyCop on Boylston street for many years. Bostonian and TUAW reader Jason heard the first hint of an announcement during a radio ad earlier today. Jason writes:

"On my way into work this morning I heard a radio ad for the CopyCop on Boylston St. The ad was someone calling the 'Cops' and reporting a missing store. The dispatcher went on to say that it's not missing, it's moving around the corner as a 'big computer store' is taking over the space."

So there you have it, straight from the ad agency's mouth. Thanks, Jason!

Filed under: Retail, Rumors

More on Apple Store Boston

The seemingly unending saga of the proposed Apple Store for Boston's Boylston Street has gained another chapter. Apple's designers have been having a heck of a time coming up with a structure that satisfies Boston's Back Bay Architectural Commission (BBAC). Boston.com has published a rendering of what may be the final design for the store. It looks a bit like New York's cube, does it not?

[Via ifoAppleStore]

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Rumors

One step closer to Apple Store Boston?

Today, TUAW reader (and Boston resident) Matt sends in this tip that seems to point to the ongoing saga of the future Boston Apple Store. While riding his bike past the Copy Cop on Boylston Street (Apple originally proposed taking over the Copy Cop building for the new store), he noticed a sign stating that Copy Cop would be vacating the premises some time in mid-June. Here's hoping this means the deal with Apple has gone through.

Thanks, Matt.

PS-Go Sox!

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