Flagship Apple Shanghai megastore now under red curtains
Apple's cylindrical glass tower entrance to the new underground retail megastore in Shanghai China, set to open mid July, is now decked in red curtains, signaling close proximity to launch.
The new real property is one of the two new stores opening in Shanghai this summer and counts among the 25 new Apple Stores that the company's chief operations executive Tim Cook said would open in China by the end of 2011.
The new store's design is reminiscent of Apple's iconic flagship New York City store on Fifth Avenue, which is similarly located entirely underground and features a dramatic giant glass cube entrance.
The new Shanghai store has an equally prominent location at the foot of the International Finance Center (and is part of the surrounding IFC Mall next to retail boutiques including Armani, Cartier, Chanel, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Vuitton, and Tiffany), and lies in the shadow of Shanghai's signature Oriental Pearl TV Tower landmark.
Earlier spy pictures published by MacGeneration indicated a cylindrical glass entrance for the new store wrapped in grey plastic, with a giant Apple logo suspended within the structure.
New pictures captured by reader dombi of the Hungarian-language BeszeljukMac site show the tower now decked in faux red curtains, similar to the launch of other Apple Stores. (A report by ifoAppleStore also published shots of the new store's red curtains.)
"When we walked down to stairs to the bottom of the structure," the BeszeljukMac photographer told AppleInsider, "a guy stepped in front of the camera and told us that we could not take shots of 'his work.' He said that we were not in a 'public area.' I asked him if he could tell me what was happening there, or when was it going to be unveiled, but he refused to say anything."
The new real property is one of the two new stores opening in Shanghai this summer and counts among the 25 new Apple Stores that the company's chief operations executive Tim Cook said would open in China by the end of 2011.
The new store's design is reminiscent of Apple's iconic flagship New York City store on Fifth Avenue, which is similarly located entirely underground and features a dramatic giant glass cube entrance.
The new Shanghai store has an equally prominent location at the foot of the International Finance Center (and is part of the surrounding IFC Mall next to retail boutiques including Armani, Cartier, Chanel, Ferragamo, Gucci, Hermes, Prada, Vuitton, and Tiffany), and lies in the shadow of Shanghai's signature Oriental Pearl TV Tower landmark.
Earlier spy pictures published by MacGeneration indicated a cylindrical glass entrance for the new store wrapped in grey plastic, with a giant Apple logo suspended within the structure.
New pictures captured by reader dombi of the Hungarian-language BeszeljukMac site show the tower now decked in faux red curtains, similar to the launch of other Apple Stores. (A report by ifoAppleStore also published shots of the new store's red curtains.)
"When we walked down to stairs to the bottom of the structure," the BeszeljukMac photographer told AppleInsider, "a guy stepped in front of the camera and told us that we could not take shots of 'his work.' He said that we were not in a 'public area.' I asked him if he could tell me what was happening there, or when was it going to be unveiled, but he refused to say anything."
Comments
Wow. What a location... and what presentation. The red curtains really look stunning. Apple certainly knows how to create hype.
It's not hype. It's called showmanship, presence, and CLASS.
Hey MS, might as well cash in your chips now while they're worth anything at all.
Wow. What a location... and what presentation. The red curtains really look stunning. Apple certainly knows how to create hype.
An underground store, although done before, still strikes me as an unusual design. I've not been in one before and would like to see what it's like. Maybe when I visit New York some time...
It's not hype. It's called showmanship, presence, and CLASS.
Hey MS, might as well cash in your chips now while they're worth anything at all.
Wait--MS has worthwhile chips? When did that happen?
Seriously though, the best thing Microsoft would do right now is fire Ballmer, pick up an intense visionary who can whip things into order, quickly push out some of the basic products they've been working on, cut loose unneeded projects, focus on only the best ideas, and go underground for around two years rebuilding Windows and all of their projects, one by one. If they could strip out the fat and waste, burn the red tape, fire the incompetent managers and employees, hire good people of taste, and focus without looking back...they might again be great.
Of course, if only pigs could fly...
What do you think?
"When we walked down to stairs to the bottom of the structure," the BeszeljukMac photographer told AppleInsider, "a guy stepped in front of the camera and told us that we could not take shots of 'his work.' He said that we were not in a 'public area.' I asked him if he could tell me what was happening there, or when was it going to be unveiled, but he refused to say anything."
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
"he refused to say anything"... a typical communist chinese...
An underground store, although done before, still strikes me as an unusual design. I've not been in one before and would like to see what it's like. Maybe when I visit New York some time...
As a kid I remember shops in the basements of downtown commercial buildings. Shoe shops and hobby shops.
But Apple is making "downstairs" into the new "upstairs."
Total genius design and strategy. In one respect it could be interpreted as an expression of humility. But at the same time it's an enticement to come inside and discover something very different. It's taking "Think different" to new lows! ;-)
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese, D-Bags...
I call AI out on this for the same reason why i WILL NOT see the new Karate Kid movie.
Ok, it's called Karate Kid, yet the Martial Arts he is training for is Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Chinese, Karate is typically a Japanese Martial Art.
what's up!!!!
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese, D-Bags...
I call AI out on this for the same reason why i WILL NOT see the new Karate Kid movie.
Ok, it's called Karate Kid, yet the Martial Arts he is training for is Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Chinese, Karate is typically a Japanese Martial Art.
Does anyone seriously care about your "splitting chop sticks" objections? I'm going to see the new one because I like the story and I like the actors. It should be fun. Whassa matter, doncha wanna have any fun?
what's up!!!!
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese, D-Bags...
I call AI out on this for the same reason why i WILL NOT see the new Karate Kid movie.
Ok, it's called Karate Kid, yet the Martial Arts he is training for is Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Chinese, Karate is typically a Japanese Martial Art.
Ninjas also don't exist "D-Bag".. so its actualy not that big a deal.
what's up!!!!
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese.
You are under the impression that Apple can't hire Japanese Ninjas for its American retail store? Or that Chinese can't play the role of a ninja character? No sense of humor at all? What a mean spirited angry person little you are.
Wait--MS has worthwhile chips? When did that happen?
Seriously though, the best thing Microsoft would do right now is fire Ballmer, pick up an intense visionary who can whip things into order, quickly push out some of the basic products they've been working on, cut loose unneeded projects, focus on only the best ideas, and go underground for around two years rebuilding Windows and all of their projects, one by one. If they could strip out the fat and waste, burn the red tape, fire the incompetent managers and employees, hire good people of taste, and focus without looking back...they might again be great.
Of course, if only pigs could fly...
totally agree! i won't even put windows on my mac pro because of the hassle of just installing.
what's up!!!!
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese, D-Bags...
I call AI out on this for the same reason why i WILL NOT see the new Karate Kid movie.
Ok, it's called Karate Kid, yet the Martial Arts he is training for is Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Chinese, Karate is typically a Japanese Martial Art.
i won't see the karate kid movie 'cause it's lame.
Wait--MS has worthwhile chips? When did that happen?
Seriously though, the best thing Microsoft would do right now is fire Ballmer, pick up an intense visionary who can whip things into order, quickly push out some of the basic products they've been working on, cut loose unneeded projects, focus on only the best ideas, and go underground for around two years rebuilding Windows and all of their projects, one by one. If they could strip out the fat and waste, burn the red tape, fire the incompetent managers and employees, hire good people of taste, and focus without looking back...they might again be great.
Of course, if only pigs could fly...
What like steve jobs? :P
Perhaps they will open a flagship store in Pyongyang or Rangoon next.
what's up!!!!
"Under Red Curtains, guarded by Ninjas"? excuse me please, but Ninjas are Japanese, not Chinese, D-Bags...
I call AI out on this for the same reason why i WILL NOT see the new Karate Kid movie.
Ok, it's called Karate Kid, yet the Martial Arts he is training for is Kung Fu. Kung Fu is Chinese, Karate is typically a Japanese Martial Art.
Nobody knows the nationality of apple ninjas. Or their identities.