Apple Stores

 Keep track of Apple's worldwide retail stores

At a Glance

With the first locations opening in May 2001, Apple operates over 500 retail stores across 25 countries and territories. This number does not include a few permanently closed stores, but it includes sites temporarily closed for renovation or expansion.

Newest Locations

• Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore
• Apple Central World in Bangkok, Thailand
• Apple Kawasaki in Kawasaki, Japan

COVID-19 Closures

As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic started to spread across the globe in early 2020, Apple's retail stores, beginning in China, saw major consequences. On February 1, because of the flu, Apple announced that it was closing all retail stores and corporate offices in China, reopening them gradually between mid-February and mid-March.

Apple was shutting stores in a number of other countries around the world by mid-March, and only days later the company revealed that it would shut all retail stores outside Greater China for the near future. On May 5, the first store outside Greater China to reopen was Apple's location in Vienna, Austria, and Apple had begun reopening stores in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S. by the following week.

As of mid-October, with many health and safety measures in place, including temperature controls, social distancing, increased cleaning, and a cap on how many customers are allowed inside their stores at once the majority of Apple retail stores in the U.S. and other countries are open again. Apple also allows both staff and customers to wear a face mask within its stores and to give one to customers who do not carry one.

Next-Generation Stores

Apple has developed to become the world's most successful company. It now has millions of customers visiting its retail stores every day around the world, and many of its earliest locations are too small and narrow to handle the increased foot traffic, particularly those in shopping malls.

In addition, Apple's product lineup has grown far beyond the Mac and iPod to include the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and other electronics and accessories after it opened its first retail store in 2001. Apple has at least one table devoted to Apple Watch try-ons and demos in most stores, for example.

In the past few years, Apple has concentrated on renovating or expanding hundreds of its retail stores in the United States and around the world for those reasons, and to play a greater role in the culture. Through adding a floor or taking over neighbouring storefronts, many of the locations have expanded, although some stores have moved entirely. Before repairs are finished, Apple often sets up a smaller temporary pop-up shop near affected locations.

In all new stores opened since about mid-2015, Apple's next-generation store concept can also be seen. The new look also includes big, open spaces with a mix of indoor trees, touch-sensitive wood sequoia tables and product show shelves, massive 6K video screens for product ads and community events, and ceiling-length light boxes.

For example, in May 2016, with high ceilings, large windows, redesigned product display areas, and two sets of massive 42-foot tall glass doors, Apple's flagship Union Square location in San Francisco opened. The doors slide open 40 feet to leave the front and back of the store open to the street and free Wi-Fi and seasonal musical performances in the rear public plaza.

A modern layout that has acted as a blueprint for the company's other retail locations in the United States and around the world has also been unveiled by Apple Union Square:

- The Avenue: Immersive "windows" theme showing Apple goods and services, alongside a curated range of third-party accessories "Only at Apple" To give "Creative Pros" about and of the displays, new "advice and expertise" are available.

— Genius Grove: a portion in the centre of the store reserved for customers to obtain side-by-side assistance under the canopy of local trees with Geniuses. This area can handle more clients than a typical Genius Bar, which is usually found in other shops.

- Forum: This area is identified by Apple as a "vibrant gathering place" next to the large K Video Wall, where "Today at Apple" sessions and other regular and monthly events related to education, creative arts, music, games, and more are held.

- The Plaza: Apple linked its Union Square store with The Plaza, an outdoor area accessible 24/7 with a 50-foot green wall, public Wi-Fi, 200-seat seating, and a fountain designed by sculpture artist Ruth Asawa, to the local community. The room features acoustic live performances.

- The Boardroom: a space with tables and chairs at the back of the store where the Apple Business Team can give entrepreneurs, developers, and other small and medium-sized business customers hands-on advice and training.

History

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, who returned to the company as CEO in 1997, acknowledged the need for a better consumer service than that offered by Circuit City, Office Max, and Sears, its third-party retailer partners. Jobs began by breaking ties with thousands of independent resellers and concentrating the retail efforts of Apple on a relationship between 1997 and 2000 with CompUSA. Apple established the first store-within-a-store concept during this period, similar to those seen in today's Best Buy locations.

Jobs started hiring a team of retail experts in 1999, including former Gap CEO Millard Drexler and Target's vice president of merchandising, Ron Johnson, who was named in January 2000 as Apple's senior vice president of retail operations. In a hidden warehouse near the company's Cupertino headquarters, Johnson's team, along with a production team led by Allen Moyer of The Walt Disney Company, began developing a series of mock Apple stores.

Some critics regarded the concept as a risky move only months after the dot-com crash, and given the failure of the retail efforts of PC manufacturer Gateway. Nevertheless, on May 19, 2001, in Tysons Corner, Virginia and Glendale, California, Apple's first two retail stores opened. Ultimately, the retail stores of Apple turned out to be a resounding success, and they now draw over 1 million customers per day worldwide and produce the highest revenue of any U.S. retailer per square foot.

Apple today reported that over its first two-day weekend, its first two retail locations welcomed over 7,700 individuals and sold a combined total of $599,000 in merchandise. The shops, located in Glendale, California, and McLean, Virginia, was the first of the company's 25 stores to open in 2001 across the United States.

Since then, Apple has grown its retail presence to 510 stores in 25 countries and territories, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In indoor shopping centres, the majority of U.S. stores operate, while some stores have standalone locations along busy streets or shopping areas. Apple also has many flagship stores around the world, called architectural wonders by many, including its famous New York City Fifth Avenue glass cube, downtown San Francisco's Union Square site, and London, England's Regent Street store.

Until he left in 2011 to become CEO of department store firm J.C., Apple retail stores remained under the leadership of Ron Johnson. Penney. Penney. His place remained vacant for almost one year, until John Browett, the former Dixons CEO, took over in April 2012. However, his time at Apple was short lived, as it is assumed he did not fit into the culture of the company. Browett resigned in October 2012, and as he started looking for a replacement, Apple's retail team reported to CEO Tim Cook.

Apple revealed in October 2013 that it had appointed Angela Ahrendts, the former Burberry CEO, as Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores. In May 2014, she assumed the position. Prior to joining Apple, Ahrendts was widely credited with boosting Burberry back to fame after a fall, tripling the sales of the company and trying to combine the online experience of Burberry with the experience of brick and mortar.

Apple announced in February 2019 that, after five years in the position, Ahrendts will step down as retail chief in April 2019. She was replaced by longtime Apple executive Deirdre O'Brien, who was elevated to People + Retail Senior Vice President, building on her roles in human resources.

With modernised designs, Apple is in the process of renovating its stores. Next-generation stores in Brussels, Cupertino, Dubai, London, New York, San Francisco and elsewhere have also been opened by Apple.

Apple Stores Timeline

NOVEMBER          2020

Nov 10

Apple Store Goes Down Ahead of Apple Event Today, Apple Silicon Macs Expected to Debut

                       Nov 5

                          iPhone Upgrade Program Temporarily Unavailable at Apple Stores in England                                Due to Lockdown Restrictions.

OCTOBER
2020 

Oct 30MagSafe Wallet for iPhone 12 Now Available for Pickup at Select Apple Stores [Updated]
                      Oct 22

                    Apple Discouraging People From Lining Up for iPhone 12 Launch With In-                            Person Reservation System

              Oct 22                   Apple Expanding 'Express' Retail Store Setup That Offers Safer Purchase                             Options

             Oct 9                 Apple to Use Retail Stores as Distribution Centers for Faster Deliveries

SEPTEMBER   
2020

Sep 17Apple Bringing Online Store to India on September 23

               Sep 9                    Apple Designs Custom Face Mask for Corporate and Retail Employees                              [Updated with Unboxing]

               Sep 7                    Apple's Marina Bay Sands Store in Singapore Opens Thursday

AUGUST
2020

Aug 24Apple Planning to Reopen Some U.S. Stores Still Shut Down Due to COVID-19

JULY 
2020 

Jul 30Take a Look Inside Apple's New Retail Store in Bangkok

                Jul 28                     Apple's Field Trip Retail Store Program Eliminated as Coronavirus                          Outbreaks Continue

               Jul 24                  Apple Providing U.S. Employees With Up to Four Hours Paid Time Off                       to Vote in November Election

              Jul 22                   Apple's Second Retail Store in Bangkok Opening on July 25

             Jul 16                 Revamped Apple Sanlitun Store Opens in Beijing

            Jul 13               Apple Not Expecting U.S. Offices to Return to Normal in 2020,                               Encourages Retail Staff at Closed Stores to Work Remotely

          Jul 8             Apple Stores Now Offering 'Shop With a Specialist' Appointments

         Jul 1            Apple Closing Stores in Southern California, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho,                    Louisiana, Texas, Utah and More

JUNE 2020 

Jun 25Apple Continues Store Closures Amid Covid-19 Spike, Now Shuttering 14 Locations in Florida

                Jun 24                     Apple Reclosing Some Stores in Texas Amid Spiking Coronavirus                             Cases