Via Paul Hillsdon and ifoAppleStore, comes word that the long rumored Vancouver Apple Retail Store is under construction. I checked this out for myself today, and sure enough, a black wall with only the Apple logo and a URL can be seen on level 3 of Pacific Centre, near where the new H&M will be. Holt Renfrew previously occupied this space. (Map)
As an Apple fan and RSS addict, I'm very disappointed with myself that I didn't see this news earlier. Paul writes "Maybe we Vancouver bloggers don’t visit Pacific Centre very much ;)". Now we have a reason, and actual human representatives of the company to go to when your Mac breaks.
This may be bad news for local independent Mac retailers (Simply Computing, MacStation, WestWorld) who fear being pushed out of business by the mothership whom they've stood by for so long. Hopefully increases in Mac exposure and market share will help sales at these stores instead of cannibalizing them. Best Buy and Future Shop likely won't lose sleep over Apple's intrusion.
Back East, where there are already four Canadian Apple Stores (Etobicoke, Laval, and two in Toronto), construction is active on the Rue Ste. Catherine store in Montreal (Map). The two story size of this store indicates that it may be a larger flagship store, which would be a first for Canada. MacEtMoi has updates and pictures.
Originally launched in 2001, Apple has opened over 200 retail stores mostly in the US, but also in England, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, and Canada. The stores are designed with the same simple, minimal, modern, but spare-no-expense esthetic as Apple's products. Having visited Apple Stores in the US, I can say that they are stunning, truly a computer retail experience like no other. The openings will likely be marked by a pilgrimage of Apple fans lining up early for T-shirts and the honor of being among to first to see the new stores.
Nice stuff! I heard of job postings for a Pacific Centre location popping up on apple.ca a few months ago, but it's great to see this actually happening.
SimplyComputing is the only store I'll actually still deal with in town. Retail computer stores, Mac-specific or not, need to figure out their business model.
I welcome our new Apple Store overlords.
Non-Apple Mac retailers need to specialize in things the Apple Stores don't do, like Tekserve does in NYC.
Exactly the same sentiment: Simply is also the only one I'll buy from any more. The business/aesthetic and experience model for Apple retailers in Vancouver goes from garage sale to a cross between a fashion showroom and Radio Shack.
Sad that I had to leave the country to have my first Apple store experience. I nearly hugged a Mac Genius.
[...] Via TechVibes, which says that Montréal will have the only Apple flagship store in Montreal, with smaller stores in Laval, Etobicoke, Vancouver & Toronto. [...]
Finally. This is going to be excellent for Vancouver. Now I don't have to wait to go to the US to keep my Mac habit satisfied.
I'm surprised you didn't see anything since it's been blogged about regularly on Metroblogging Vancouver, and one of the posts was picked up by TUAW.
@Jeffery: Surprising indeed, since I subscribe to both. I think my self imposed Google Reader overload has led to a "mark all as read" twitch.
Hi Greg :)
Here is the liveblog of the Green Web 2.0 event. Nice to have met you in person! I do hope I won't be one of the "mark all as read" blogs on your RSS feed ;)
