Any idea if Montreal has any other Apple stores? Toronto has three, I think, but they're not on this scale. Perhaps cheap real estate was a consideration, since Montreal's economy has been chronically depressed for the last thirty years. But high costs didn't stop Apple from building big stores in New York City, so hopefully they will bring a new "flagship" store to Canada's economic centre soon. There's about three times as many consumers and 5 times as much money in Toronto as Montreal, so it would be a smart move for Apple.
None by name, though there is MicroBoutique which does a good job in specialising in Mac hardware.
As to location, I think Montreal is much of a tourist oriented city than Toronto. Beyond the CN tower I am not sure what other attraction the place has? Montreal has festivals, the F1 GP, Indy GP, an old town, an active down-town, night life that is accessible on foot, four universities, IT industry, pharma industry and other stuff too. Also where it is in Montreal puts it next to Crescent street, which is an "in place" for clubs and restaurants. BTW It makes more sense to be on Ste-Catherine, since the street is considered a shopping street and you get all the foot traffic, whereas Crescent is more about dining and clubbing.
None by name, though there is MicroBoutique which does a good job in specialising in Mac hardware.
As to location, I think Montreal is much of a tourist oriented city than Toronto. Beyond the CN tower I am not sure what other attraction the place has? Montreal has festivals, the F1 GP, Indy GP, an old town, an active down-town, night life that is accessible on foot and other stuff too. Also where it is in Montreal puts it next to Crescent street, which is an "in place" for clubs and restaurants. BTW It makes more sense to be on Ste-Catherine, since the street is considered a shopping street and you get all the foot traffic, whereas Crescent is more about dining and clubbing.
I could easily argue the relative merits of Toronto and Montreal for tourism, but it would be besides the point. Tourists don't go on vacation to buy a computer. The main market has got to be local for a computer store, and Toronto is simply a much bigger place with a bigger market for Apple computers. I have a feeling that the people in Cupertino chose Montreal without a full understanding of the Canadian market.
Anyway, at least we already have three Apple Stores in Toronto. I'm just a bit disappointed with them. They are very small and offer little else besides a display of Apple products. A big flagship on Bloor Street, or Yonge would be great.
Not necessarily, but I have seen plenty of European visitors buy electronics hardware when they come over to North America, since it is cheaper over here. There may be other factors that Apple took into account that we aren't fully aware of.
This would be the first branded Apple store for the city.
Well I'm not sure how that's held-up over time, but historically, there always have been higher than average Mac usage in Quebec than elsewhere in North-America (not unlike the fact that we're one of the few places where there are more Pepsi drikers than Coke drinkers). It was arond 20% of the market in the mid 90's when the Mac had about 10% elsewhere...
I imagine it has a lot to do with "cool factor". I may be a bit biased being from Montreal but this city is generally considered to be the "hip" and cool city where Toronto is considered to be more about business. Despite Toronto being larger and richer, the whole concept of an Apple Flagship opening in Montreal before Toronto sends a message that Apple is more of a "cool" company than one that is strictly motivated by profit. I'm sure there are plans for a Toronto store in the near future but the Montreal store being first I'm sure is being done to send this message.
"Yes, it's true, Montreal already has one Apple Store. It's located in the "Carrefour" shopping centre on the north shore (Laval)." (last thread)
Laval is to Montreal rather like Mississauga is to Toronto, plus a river separating it. Not the same thing as beingin Montreal at all.
It makes sense to put a big flagship store in downtown Montreal precisely because there are no Apple stores there yet - overdue. There will be a market. Plus the "cool" factor will especially attract a lot of traffic in a city like Montreal, as others have said
It also made sense to put the first Apple store in Toronto - most people, most money, and even to add other stores to fill the demand. Toronto will get a flagship store in due course, but it's less urgent tahn in Montreal, since there are three stores already there. maybe in 2 or 3 years.
Vancouver and Calgary will get Apple stores, but not flagship stores. At least not as long as they are so selectively placed as at present.
I imagine it has a lot to do with "cool factor". I may be a bit biased being from Montreal but this city is generally considered to be the "hip" and cool city where Toronto is considered to be more about business.
I can just imagine a TV commercial that starts with a cool hypster and business geek saying "Hi, I'm Montreal..., and I'm Toronto"
Have you actually ever been to Montréal? I went to Toronto several times and I gotta say it?s nowhere as an international capital as Montréal... Sorry to say this, but if you tell someone anywhere on the planet your from Toronto it?s like sayin your from Cincinati or Detroit. Bland...
Montréal is up there with the world?s most appealing cities like; Berlin, Rome, Paris, NYC, Tokyo, London, Geneva, Sidney, Barcelona and so on.
Have you ever had the summer olympics? NO
Any universal expos? NO
How many stanley cups? Ok maybe that?s unrelated...
Fact is Toronto will NOT have an Apple Flagship store. End of story...
Of course, Toronto is richer and has about 1 million more citizens, but in the end of the day it?s just not up there with NYC, London and Tokyo in terms of international glamour and appeal.
Comments
Any idea if Montreal has any other Apple stores? Toronto has three, I think, but they're not on this scale. Perhaps cheap real estate was a consideration, since Montreal's economy has been chronically depressed for the last thirty years. But high costs didn't stop Apple from building big stores in New York City, so hopefully they will bring a new "flagship" store to Canada's economic centre soon. There's about three times as many consumers and 5 times as much money in Toronto as Montreal, so it would be a smart move for Apple.
None by name, though there is MicroBoutique which does a good job in specialising in Mac hardware.
As to location, I think Montreal is much of a tourist oriented city than Toronto. Beyond the CN tower I am not sure what other attraction the place has? Montreal has festivals, the F1 GP, Indy GP, an old town, an active down-town, night life that is accessible on foot, four universities, IT industry, pharma industry and other stuff too. Also where it is in Montreal puts it next to Crescent street, which is an "in place" for clubs and restaurants. BTW It makes more sense to be on Ste-Catherine, since the street is considered a shopping street and you get all the foot traffic, whereas Crescent is more about dining and clubbing.
BTW If you are interested: General statistics on tourism in Montréal
None by name, though there is MicroBoutique which does a good job in specialising in Mac hardware.
As to location, I think Montreal is much of a tourist oriented city than Toronto. Beyond the CN tower I am not sure what other attraction the place has? Montreal has festivals, the F1 GP, Indy GP, an old town, an active down-town, night life that is accessible on foot and other stuff too. Also where it is in Montreal puts it next to Crescent street, which is an "in place" for clubs and restaurants. BTW It makes more sense to be on Ste-Catherine, since the street is considered a shopping street and you get all the foot traffic, whereas Crescent is more about dining and clubbing.
BTW If you are interested: General statistics on tourism in Montréal
I could easily argue the relative merits of Toronto and Montreal for tourism, but it would be besides the point. Tourists don't go on vacation to buy a computer. The main market has got to be local for a computer store, and Toronto is simply a much bigger place with a bigger market for Apple computers. I have a feeling that the people in Cupertino chose Montreal without a full understanding of the Canadian market.
Anyway, at least we already have three Apple Stores in Toronto. I'm just a bit disappointed with them. They are very small and offer little else besides a display of Apple products. A big flagship on Bloor Street, or Yonge would be great.
Tourists don't go on vacation to buy a computer.
Not necessarily, but I have seen plenty of European visitors buy electronics hardware when they come over to North America, since it is cheaper over here. There may be other factors that Apple took into account that we aren't fully aware of.
This would be the first branded Apple store for the city.
The Cupertino-based Mac maker has secured a lease at 1321 Ste-Catherine Ouest
i was about to say it's ouest not quest but for some reason it says ouest in the quote
Lots of universities/colleges, other large tech firms (EA, Ubisoft, etc.), cheap real estate...
real estate isn't cheap, it's expensive as heck. especially downtown montreal.
Well I'm not sure how that's held-up over time, but historically, there always have been higher than average Mac usage in Quebec than elsewhere in North-America (not unlike the fact that we're one of the few places where there are more Pepsi drikers than Coke drinkers). It was arond 20% of the market in the mid 90's when the Mac had about 10% elsewhere...
I understood that Toronto held that distinction.
Laval is to Montreal rather like Mississauga is to Toronto, plus a river separating it. Not the same thing as beingin Montreal at all.
It makes sense to put a big flagship store in downtown Montreal precisely because there are no Apple stores there yet - overdue. There will be a market. Plus the "cool" factor will especially attract a lot of traffic in a city like Montreal, as others have said
It also made sense to put the first Apple store in Toronto - most people, most money, and even to add other stores to fill the demand. Toronto will get a flagship store in due course, but it's less urgent tahn in Montreal, since there are three stores already there. maybe in 2 or 3 years.
Vancouver and Calgary will get Apple stores, but not flagship stores. At least not as long as they are so selectively placed as at present.
I imagine it has a lot to do with "cool factor". I may be a bit biased being from Montreal but this city is generally considered to be the "hip" and cool city where Toronto is considered to be more about business.
I can just imagine a TV commercial that starts with a cool hypster and business geek saying "Hi, I'm Montreal..., and I'm Toronto"
Have you actually ever been to Montréal? I went to Toronto several times and I gotta say it?s nowhere as an international capital as Montréal... Sorry to say this, but if you tell someone anywhere on the planet your from Toronto it?s like sayin your from Cincinati or Detroit. Bland...
Montréal is up there with the world?s most appealing cities like; Berlin, Rome, Paris, NYC, Tokyo, London, Geneva, Sidney, Barcelona and so on.
Have you ever had the summer olympics? NO
Any universal expos? NO
How many stanley cups? Ok maybe that?s unrelated...
Fact is Toronto will NOT have an Apple Flagship store. End of story...
Of course, Toronto is richer and has about 1 million more citizens, but in the end of the day it?s just not up there with NYC, London and Tokyo in terms of international glamour and appeal.
You can see what the parking meter signs look like at the bottom right of the third image.