A brief look inside Apple's upcoming Paris retail store

[AppleInsider]

One of Apple's most important, upcoming foreign retail stores has been given an early glimpse months ahead of its completion. We take an early look through photos.

A tipster has provided AppleInsider with the gallery, which shows the current state of the upcoming Carrousel du Louvre store near Paris' historic museum.

At this stage, the 7,700 square foot location is unsurprisingly bare; the property was only vacated by its old tenant in mid-December. Still, it provides early clues as to the layout of the store, which will become a flagship for France. The second floor only occupies some of the space's surface area and creates an open environment for those on the main floor. The Carrousel shop is also noteworthy for its non-rectangular layout.

Apple isn't likely to open the store until the fall, but it stands ready to become one of the California company's most successful stores outside of the US. In addition to the upscale location, its presence near the Louvre gallery puts it within reach of 8 million tourists per year as well as Paris residents.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[bigmike]

close to the Louvre. money, money, money.

[Daniel001]

Well, nice scoop, but there's only so much we can learn from pictures of an undecorated shop unit.

[columbus]

Could they not get a Champs Elysee property?

[soundsgoodtome]

dear editor,

with all due respect, you can't give a glimpse to something that doesn't have eyes. :-) so, the store wasn't given a glimpse; we were given a glimpse of the store.

[nine days]

Originally Posted by columbus

Could they not get a Champs Elysee property?

I live in Paris and it is so much expensive. They really pick a nice place !

[wilco]

Originally Posted by nine days

I live in Paris and it is so much expensive. They really pick a nice place !

Why do French people smell like cheese?

[801]

Originally Posted by nine days

I live in Paris and it is so much expensive. They really pick a nice place !

Well, Nine Days, you are now the unofficial AI Louvre Correspondent. We all expect an opening day T shirt from you. I"ll take an XL.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by wilco

Why do French people smell like cheese?

You're pretty pathetic, wilco.

People like you help bring shame upon Americans.

[mastrouz]

Originally Posted by wilco

Why do French people smell like cheese?

This is because we love Cheese, we don't take showers, don't use perfume and don't brush our teeth.... The worst a cheese smells, the better it is. Anyway, it's always better than being stupid, right ? ah, all those wrong ideas, why don't you say jews are all rich, blacks are less clever, arabs are educationless... But none of us smells like hamburger !!!!!

[solipsism]

I'm surprised Paris hasn't gotten a store yet, this is a great location. Wikipedia state that 4 stores are planned for France. I figure they will use the French AZERTY keyboard layout but Apple's French site only has pictures of the standard QWERTY keyboard.

I miss France. Spent a good deal of time in the North, mostly toward the Low Countries. Learned enough French, specifically Picard and Walloon to get by. Can't say I recall any of it now. Funny how you forget things you don't use.

[anantksundaram]

Why do moderators who chafe at the insulting nature of some AI posts not sanction an embarrassment like wilco?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

Why do moderators who chafe at the insulting nature of some AI posts not sanction an embarrassment like wilco?

His posts are so weak and feeble that his insult is easily overlooked. It's others like Teckturd, Jfanning and ItalianKid who are constantly wrong and askew of any rational thought that they through the thread off when you try to correct their ignorance.

[dreyfus2]

Originally Posted by Daniel001

Well, nice scoop, but there's only so much we can learn from pictures of an undecorated shop unit.

Hm, I am sure you can imagine a glass staircase and elevator and some cheap IKEA furniture. Everything else is there

[bobertoq]

Originally Posted by mastrouz

This is because we love Cheese, we don't take showers, don't use perfume and don't brush our teeth.... The worst a cheese smells, the better it is. Anyway, it's always better than being stupid, right ? ah, all those wrong ideas, why don't you say jews are all rich, blacks are less clever, arabs are educationless... But none of us smells like hamburger !!!!!

What? Socialists never make sense...

Anyway, it's looking nice so far... I guess. It looks huge, though, compared to the one where I live. The one over here is tiiiiiny.

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by columbus

Could they not get a Champs Elysee property?

I see 2 reasons for this:

- Available retail space on the Champs are extremely hard to come by, either to lease or plain buy. There's about 1 vacant lot per year, but mostly small floor surface. In all practically not enough for an Apple Store I'd say.
So apart from buying out one of the multiplexes or the premium retail spots like Mercedes it ain't happening.

- From a retail potential the Carousel location seems quite better, Parisians do not shop on the Champs (well Parisians with any sense anyway) whereas that mall is swamped at any hour. Add to that it's already showcasing luxury brands stores and Apple logo there will fit right in.
As for any tourist buying a Mac while visiting the Louvre, I don't know about that one... maybe Ipods I guess.

Oh and also: About freaking time!!

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by solipsism

. I figure they will use the French AZERTY keyboard layout but Apple's French site only has pictures of the standard QWERTY keyboard.

You can get either keyboard layouts when ordering through Apple's resellers (Fnac and others) or the Apple store site.

>> And thank god for that (Or Jobs)

[nvidia2008]

Originally Posted by bigmike

close to the Louvre. money, money, money.

Is it just me? I suddenly thought of the Da Vinci Code. But instead, the grisly murder is at the Apple Retail Store Paris.

The Code of Jobs. In theaters summer 2010.
(Yet another) Robert Langdon mystery...

(Not that I wish any real murders to happen at any Apple Retail Stores)

[dreyfus2]

That is great news indeed. Perfect location and a very nice mall. We go shopping in Paris at least once a month anyhow. German shops suck and the Apple Store in Munich is almost the same distance, so this will be a great alternative until they open up something in Frankfurt someday. An Apple Store and the most beautiful city in the world == sheer happiness!

[AeronPrometheus]

I like how the unfinished store kinda looks like it was gutted by a fire.

[IQatEdo]

Originally Posted by nvidia2008

Is it just me? I suddenly thought of the Da Vinci Code...

I thought that too - sad.

mastrouz and nine days, is this store going to be in the retail complex under the forecourt of the Louvre?

All the best - tout le meilleur.

[xSushi]

Apple's trading in a giant glass cube for a glass Pyramid? I approve!

[digitalfrog]

Fantastic location for tourists, but is it really their target.
I would have thought Parisians would be, and this is a pathetic location for them. We don't shop more in Les Champs Elysees than Le Louvre. It may be a sad reflection on myself, but I was born and raised in Paris and don't think I've been in the area more than 5 times.

So big miss in my opinion, as most would need to travel on purpose to it (vs stop by as they shop for other things too).

It's like having an Apple shop at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty (French as well BTW) in NYC.... would the locals go ??!

[jcart12]

If you ask me the Champs Elysee is not somewhere to put a flagship store. It is full of horribly tacky stores that sell mainly tourist tat and I don't think many french people actually go there to shop.

However neither is the carrousel an ideal location as it also primarily for tourists and is not an area that shoppers are likely to pass. I can't imagine the average museum visitor deciding to buy a new laptop in between visits to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

I would have preferred to see the it on Boulevard Haussmann next to Gallarie Lafayette or near the La Bonne Marché on the south bank, which is known for its high end boutique shopping.

a brit living in Paris........

[nixi]

Originally Posted by jcart12

However neither is the carrousel an ideal location as it also primarily for tourists and is not an area that shoppers are likely to pass. I can't imagine the average museum visitor deciding to buy a new laptop in between visits to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

I would have preferred to see the it on Boulevard Haussmann next to Gallarie Lafayette or near the La Bonne Marché on the south bank, which is known for its high end boutique shopping.

a brit living in Paris........

The Carrousel may not be a high-density commercial spot, but at least it's a clear/known destination. It's also one Metro stop from Châtelet, arguably the highest traffic area in the city.

People interested in going to an Apple store will go to the Carrousel, as there are fringe benefits (more shopping + culture) and the access is much much easier than Blvd Haussmann, the Rive Gauche (Le Bon Marché) and even The Champs Elysées ( a few metro stations further down line 1).


Also as far as the interior of the Carrousel goes, it's very upscale/clean, even after all those years. Must have something to do with it being adjacent to the Louvre Museum.
Oh, and speaking of which, can you think of a better association for a brand that evangelizes quality, than one of the most importanT museums in the world? (Or: can you think of any other computer company whose association with the "Louvre" name would make sense?)

I also wonder how difficult it is to obtain a permit to keep a store open on Sunday. In Paris, most stores are closed on Sunday, except in areas like the Marais, for example. The Carrousel stores, on the other hand are open on Sundays - the Virgin Mega Store used to always be busy (though not swarmed with buyers) on Sundays: it made for a very pleasant and relaxing way to discover and purchase music.

[carloblackmore]

Every so often it hits me again how BRILLIANT it was for Apple to launch retail stores!
In many ways it was as courageous as it was obvious. And they have hit homeruns over and over again with it.

Steve Jobs often cites a quote by Alan Kay: "People who are really serious about software should make their own hardware." But Apple has taken that to the next dimension by proving those who are really serious about software and hardware, should also make their own retail experience.

[Jimzip]

This is actually really cool. Can't wait to see what they'll do with the space.

Jimzip

[Sipadan]

Originally Posted by jcart12

However neither is the carrousel an ideal location as it also primarily for tourists and is not an area that shoppers are likely to pass. I can't imagine the average museum visitor deciding to buy a new laptop in between visits to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

I would have preferred to see the it on Boulevard Haussmann next to Gallarie Lafayette or near the La Bonne Marché on the south bank, which is known for its high end boutique shopping.

The more I think about it the more the Carrousel location sounds the best possible option to start in Paris. I doubt Apple is expecting Mona Lisa tourists to buy iMacs by the truckloads.... duh. But they might get an Ipod or other Apple related products. As for Parisians well a lot of them do visit that mall often, for other upscale brands. And it's very central, easily accessible from any quarter of the city.

On the Haussman Bvd? you must be joking: one it'd be like an Apple store next to Macy's, and two they would not in a million years get any retail space anywhere NEAR that area. Not only there won't be any property available in our lifetimes but also it has special zoning status (being next to the old Opera) and you basically can't build anything new from scratch without going through a monument architecture commission....basically it goes all the way to the culture minister cabinet.. so dream on.

Le bon Marché (and not La Bonne Marché....) option is more debatable. It's a little like the Village one downtown NYC. Except the area in Paris is mostly fashion shops, a mix of fashion brands and not as great ones. <i don't see Apple fitting there. The quarter hasn't been remade new recently like the dowtown nyc block around the Apple store. Lastly... that area has also a monument zoning string attached to it...

The only other option I can think of with potential would be the Bercy Mall area, brand new and nice brands. And a lot of traffic every single day of the week. Only problem is it's quite outside of the center, to the East. I hope they consider it if there's ever a second store in Paris.

[nasdarq]

Originally Posted by jcart12

If you ask me the Champs Elysee is not somewhere to put a flagship store. It is full of horribly tacky stores that sell mainly tourist tat and I don't think many french people actually go there to shop.

However neither is the carrousel an ideal location as it also primarily for tourists and is not an area that shoppers are likely to pass. I can't imagine the average museum visitor deciding to buy a new laptop in between visits to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

I would have preferred to see the it on Boulevard Haussmann next to Gallarie Lafayette or near the La Bonne Marché on the south bank, which is known for its high end boutique shopping.

a brit living in Paris........

I am sure at some point Apple will open a store in Bvd Raspail/Rue du Four/St Germain-des-Pres Area, which is by far my favourite shopping area in that great city.

And Le Bon Marche ? ) Well, unless LVMH (who own it) rent a spot for Apple ...

[nasdarq]

Originally Posted by Sipadan

The more I think about it the more the Carrousel location sounds the best possible option to start in Paris. I doubt Apple is expecting Mona Lisa tourists to buy iMacs by the truckloads.... duh. But they might get an Ipod or other Apple related products. As for Parisians well a lot of them do visit that mall often, for other upscale brands. And it's very central, easily accessible from any quarter of the city.

On the Haussman Bvd? you must be joking: one it'd be like an Apple store next to Macy's, and two they would not in a million years get any retail space anywhere NEAR that area. Not only there won't be any property available in our lifetimes but also it has special zoning status (being next to the old Opera) and you basically can't build anything new from scratch without going through a monument architecture commission....basically it goes all the way to the culture minister cabinet.. so dream on.

Le bon Marché (and not La Bonne Marché....) option is more debatable. It's a little like the Village one downtown NYC. Except the area in Paris is mostly fashion shops, a mix of fashion brands and not as great ones. <i don't see Apple fitting there. The quarter hasn't been remade new recently like the dowtown nyc block around the Apple store. Lastly... that area has also a monument zoning string attached to it...

The only other option I can think of with potential would be the Bercy Mall area, brand new and nice brands. And a lot of traffic every single day of the week. Only problem is it's quite outside of the center, to the East. I hope they consider it if there's ever a second store in Paris.

Sipadan, who said Apple should build something? Of course, in most places in Paris this would be impossible.

Do you know Starbucks next to the Opera? I think it's an iconic architectural space, with just a bit of modern refurbishing, but still retaining all the great Hausmanian characteristics. Apple should go for something like that, something so Parisian yet modern.