Apple: Fifth Ave store will never close (photos)

[AppleInsider]

The Apple Store Fifth Avenue will be Apple's most architecturally innovative store and will also operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to offer an unprecedented level of service, the company officially announced on Thursday.

The store features a distinctive 32-foot glass cube that creates an attractive new destination on Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s most popular shopping areas.

“We opened our first New York store in SoHo in 2002, and it has been successful beyond our dreams. Now we’re thrilled to open our second New York store on Fifth Avenue,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With outstanding service and an amazing location open 24 hours a day, we think the Apple Store Fifth Avenue is going to be a favorite destination for New Yorkers and people around the world.”

The new store offers more than 100 Macs and nearly 200 iPods for customers to try before they buy, as well as the world’s largest assortment of accessories.

The Apple Store Fifth Avenue also has the largest staff of any Apple Store, with nearly 300 highly trained Mac Specialists, Mac Geniuses and Creatives who will offer free tips and tricks on photography, movies and music.

Inside the Apple Store Fifth Avenue, customers will find a combined 45-foot Genius Bar, iPod Bar and The Studio where they can get face-to-face support, free advice and work on creative projects at any hour of the day or night.

Apple Store Fifth Avenue: The Cube

Apple also announced that more than 147 million people on three continents have visited Apple retail stores since they opened in May 2001. Apple’s Retail division generated more than one billion dollars in revenue during the 2005 holiday shopping season, solidifying the company's position as one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world.

With the opening of the Apple Store Fifth Avenue, Apple now operates 147 stores, including six in Japan, six in the U.K. and two in Canada.

Inside the Apple Store Fifth Avenue

The Apple Store Fifth Avenue is located at 767 Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets, neighboring Central Park, FAO Schwarz and Bergdorf Goodman. It will open to the general public on Friday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[mowenbrown]

I wondered why anyone would spend that much on a giant Glass cube, but I have to admit it looks cool.

[solipsism]

Finally! I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to buy Apple products in the middle of the night.

[Ireland]

I bet this store is a monstrosity when you're actually in it. My friend is going to new your in two months, lucky bastard. For one New York is one of the coolest places on earth. For two they now have the coolest apple store on earth

[SpamSandwich]

You know what they say about people who live in glass cubes...

[audiopollution]

winter snow on shoes + glass stairs = time to get my lawyer on retainer and rake in the settlement money!

[icibaqu]

images don't load and that's lame.

[hohlecow]

the Chicago store has glass stairs (iirc), but the top is cut and roughed up enough that there is no concern about traction. i'm guessing these are similar.

[websnap]

Is it just me or does it look like an old iPod box but clear from strait on at street level?

[icibaqu]

now images work. nice.

[Ringo]

Originally posted by hohlecow
the Chicago store has glass stairs (iirc), but the top is cut and roughed up enough that there is no concern about traction. i'm guessing these are similar.

All of the flagship stores do.

[iPickle06]

i bet you some people gonna try throw stones at the cube, although im sure its some high quality glass

[TednDi]

Where did they put the RDF generator?

[Ti Fighter]

Originally posted by solipsism
Finally! I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to buy Apple products in the middle of the night.

I tell you it's going to be really handy at work, being an industrial production shop that's apple based, it's going to be amazing to have that resource to pick somthing up anytime.

Like the time I needed another quad machine at 3 in the morning...

[MacDuff]

Originally posted by TednDi
Where did they put the RDF generator?

Right in the Apple sign like always! You think that's light bulbs causing its illumination??

With all of the beam's reflections inside the glass cube, the power is multiplied, permeates completely throughout your balls... and onwards to your wallet!

[gunnmjk]

All I can see in the photo is stairs. I wonder if there is dissability access.

[MacDuff]

Originally posted by gunnmjk
All I can see in the photo is stairs. I wonder if there is dissability access.

There's also an elevator in the very middle of the Cube. In the second picture of the article showing the interior, you can see the square column for it that the stairs wrap around.

[Apparatus]

Steve Jobs really hearts his cubes.

[ecking]

Originally posted by MacDuff
Right in the Apple sign like always! You think that's light bulbs causing its illumination??

With all of the beam's reflections inside the glass cube, the power is multiplied, permeates completely throughout your balls... and onwards to your wallet!

Macduff nailed it. Infact the apple doesn't have the it inside it....the apple is the generator!

There are only 15 humans on the planet that can see threw the RDF to them it looks like a picture of a bright purple chicken that is raising one wing(it's true form).

But to everyone else(even things like cameras somehow) it astral projects itself as a shining white apple into our minds.

And if that doesn't get you.....THE ELEVATOR IS A RDF CAPSULE, while your in it your body is encased in pure RDF from every possible direction.

I cannot help but submit to its power.

[rok]

i would hate to be the genius on staff working third shift, because you just KNOW the wild-eyed guy lugging the smoking ruins of his g5 tower t 3:42 a.m. will be insistent that he needs the files off this computer NOW or he'll lose MILLIONS! and no, he has no idea why it's also soaking wet inside. just FIX IT, GENIUS!!!!

i wonder how they're going to keep the cube clean? i gotta imagine it's going to be a bitch to make the top corners of that cube really sparkle after a couple of years. but they obviously designed it as a high-roller place to see-and-be-seen by the ultra-wealthy, as well as the common joe, so they'll probably make enough revenue to put back in for rent and upkeep.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by ecking
Macduff nailed it. Infact the apple doesn't have the it inside it....the apple is the generator!

There are only 15 humans on the planet that can see threw the RDF to them it looks like a picture of a bright purple chicken that is raising one wing(it's true form).

But to everyone else(even things like cameras somehow) it astral projects itself as a shining white apple into our minds.

And if that doesn't get you.....THE ELEVATOR IS A RDF CAPSULE, while your in it your body is encased in pure RDF from every possible direction.

I cannot help but submit to its power.

I understand Adobe is seeking to license the RDF technology to include in their next Acrobat update!

[addabox]

This got asked in the other Store thread, but no answer, so I'll ask it here:

WTF is up with the magic transparent elevator? The tube in the middle of the stairs, right?

So how did they engineer an elevator out of all transparent parts?

[solipsism]

Originally posted by addabox
So how did they engineer an elevator out of all transparent parts?

It looks to only reach two levels. I'm guessing that there is another elevator there on one of the walls, for employees, that accesses a stockroom below the showroom. In the area under the elevator is a large hydraulic (like at a car repair shop). This would make the extended elevator still look eye pleasing as there would be no wires, only a simple, elegant, chrome cylinder.

(pure speculation)

[Gene Clean]

I *really* love how stores look inside, but I can't help but think that this whole cube thing is pointless. It serves no function other than look cool (and it doesn't even look cool, it's just glass shaped like a cube).

[CosmoNut]

Originally posted by Gene Clean
I *really* love how stores look inside, but I can't help but think that this whole cube thing is pointless. It serves no function other than look cool (and it doesn't even look cool, it's just glass shaped like a cube).

But it's APPLE'S cube, which makes it inherently cool. Gosh, don't you even have any clue how the Reality Distortion Field is supposed to work?!

[audiopollution]

Originally posted by Gene Clean
I *really* love how stores look inside, but I can't help but think that this whole cube thing is pointless. It serves no function other than look cool (and it doesn't even look cool, it's just glass shaped like a cube).

Is 'looking cool' a bad thing? If it serves it's main purpose of covering the hole in the ground which leads to the store, wouldn't 'looking cool' as an enticement for consumers be a good thing?

I'd say it's a whole pile 'cooler' than a square concrete structure.

[Gene Clean]

It's glass with an Apple logo on it. Nothing special about it. From what I can tell, it doesn't even have any specific design or pattern or something. It's glass in the shape of a cube.

I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beerho... I mean, beholder, but I don't find it particularly attractive, as opposed to the stores themselves which are both sexy and simple.

[Gene Clean]

Originally posted by CosmoNut
But it's APPLE'S cube, which makes it inherently cool. Gosh, don't you even have any clue how the Reality Distortion Field is supposed to work?!

Yeah I know. Sorry dudez, didn't mean to badmouth Apple. I guess I'll just go get a Dell!

[hardeeharhar]

Does anyone else get the feeling that by claiming a store will never close ensures its demise?

[rok]

Originally posted by Gene Clean
I *really* love how stores look inside, but I can't help but think that this whole cube thing is pointless. It serves no function other than look cool (and it doesn't even look cool, it's just glass shaped like a cube).

having been in a few "information overload" cities, it's a simple matter of screaming loud enough and different enough in the crowd to get noticed. and while you may find the cube beautiful, or ho-hum, i don't think there's another glass cube in new york, and certainyl none that leads down to a subterranean store, so by virtue of JUST THAT, it's a brilliant move, especially in its simplicity.

[DeaPeaJay]

Originally posted by hardeeharhar
Does anyone else get the feeling that by claiming a store will never close ensures its demise?

Why on Earth would that ensure its demise?



Has anyone seen the time lapse of the first 24 hours of the store? Take a look at 05:00 this morning. There's an Apple store proposal!

http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/