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I live on the UWS. Anyone know what business occupied the space prior to Apple? Just curious.

Nov 12, 09 - 10:00 am Comment from: pastrychef

Anyone know how that Microsoft store is doing? Any updated photos to show how their foot traffic is, now that they're not offering free concert tickets?

Nov 12, 09 - 10:02 am Comment from: pastrychef

@ Guy Jones:

I believe it used to be a Victoria's Secret. I look forward to visiting this store. It looks great.

@ pastrychef, I just checked out this video on youtube with jon4lakers about the Microshaft store. It is a direct ripoff of the store, they even have a concierge. Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsx4hBYDesg

Nov 12, 09 - 10:19 am Comment from: AILORW

Unlike Microsoft, Apple has taste. Absolutely beautiful.

Nov 12, 09 - 10:30 am Comment from: pastrychef

@ RocknRolla:

Thanks for the link. It was an interesting video to watch. I didn't notice anyone buying anything.

Nov 12, 09 - 10:34 am Comment from: Amazin1

Now there is a window washers dream! 55 gallon drums of Windex anyone?

Haha same here, the employee's clap when someone purchase a product. Maybe they had the volume down on the video, because I didn't here anyone X) I heard that they didn't even put a store in Redmond(the place the Holy Grail was found /s) lmao

Nov 12, 09 - 10:40 am Comment from: disposableidentity

Stunning.
Ten years ago could anyone have guessed?

Nov 12, 09 - 10:41 am Comment from: niji

truly stunning architecture.
does anyone have a link to the architectural firm apple used to design this structure?

Nov 12, 09 - 10:55 am Comment from: dmbream

Right next to Ollie's!

:-D

Nov 12, 09 - 11:12 am Comment from: Aldebaran

That is a stunning design -- not so much a store as it is a cathedral to Apple. It had to compete with the 5th Avenue store, and I think it does so rather spectacularly.

Bef Vic Secrets it was Tower Records.

Nov 12, 09 - 11:27 am Comment from: Steve516

I believe it is the same firm they have used for quite some time - but I can't recall specifically - sorry.

Wonder if they used LED lighting or are prepared to make the switch? My other concern would be the HVAC system - I would imagine it will take a great deal of energy to keep it cool considering all the glass. Wonder if they have automatic shades to keep the sun loading down in the summer....

Nov 12, 09 - 11:38 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

@$$$$... Wrong. Tower was a block south at 66th and Broadway. This is across the street from Gracious Home and the big Loew's Lincoln Square movie theatre.

It's in my neighborhood. I'll walk by on my way to the Metropolitan Opera tonight... Leoš Janáček's "From the House of the Dead"!

I think it was originally a movie theater.

Nov 12, 09 - 01:53 pm Comment from: LordRobin

"These Apple retail stores will never be successful. It's an expensive boondoggle that will cost Apple billions!"

Hee!

I notice you don't hear the same thing about Microsoft's stores, even though it's far more likely to be true. Is it because the media still kisses Microsoft's butt after all these years, or just because Apple proved the concept could work?

------RM

It's too bad Los Angeles is not the type of city that has a location for an Apple Store of this magnitude. All of LA's Apple Stores are inside shopping malls. The "Flagship" LA Apple Store is the one in The Grove, which is an (admittedly higher end) outdoor retail mall in the Fairfax District. But that store is puny, obscure and piss-ant compared to any of the Manhattan Stores, or the new one in Arizona. All the rest of LA's stores are inside fully enclosed shopping malls, and, outside of the merchandise they sell, the excitement level of any of them never rises above the "meh" level.

And that just sucks.

Nov 13, 09 - 01:07 am Comment from: AILORW

If the Gap at Hollywood & Highland were to ever leave, that would be the perfect location for an Apple Store. It would also be nice to have one on Sunset Blvd, right where the old Tower Records was. Another location - Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The big problem with LA is parking. Unlike NY where many residents use mass transit, everyone drives in LA. Imagine the parking nightmares on opening day at any of those otherwise great locations.

None of those locations would offer up a building anywhere near as dramatic as that new Manhattan store. I've been to Hollywood and Highland many times - nothing more than a glorified shopping mall. Even the Virgin "megastore" inside that complex seemed like going down into a basement or a cave from street level. Now I think Hard Rock Cafe is moving in to the Virgin space even though HRC already has a joint just a couple miles away in Universal CityWalk.

Apple needs a custom built for Apple, flagship building in some new development like LA Live, complete with all glass roof, rather than taking over some traditional hard-roofed retail space originally designed for some clothier like The Gap.