First pictures from outside of new Cologne, Germany Apple Store at Schildergasse emerge

The scaffolding and construction fencing surrounding the new Cologne, Germany Apple store has been removed, with passers-by getting the first glimpses of the exterior of the store.

Apple enthusiast site Macerkopf was on the scene when the obscuring material was removed, showing a store with some exterior Apple branding, but the interior still blocked by colorful iMessage-related signage.

The German-language iFun had a closer look at the entryway to the store.

Prior to the March 25 opening of the Schildergasse store, Apple has 14 stores in Germany. Other shops are scattered across the country in Augsburg, Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Oberhausen, Sindelfingen, and Sulzbach.

The current Cologne outlet in Rhein Center, located inside its namesake mall. The Schildergasse location gives Apple another downtown outlet, in a larger street-facing location.

Much of Apple's retail expansion in the last two years has taken place outside the U.S., since most of the U.S. major cities are already covered by more than one establishment. The company is also rumored to be working on a second Belgian store, based in the city of Bruges.