Apple Retail Store Set for Minneapolis

On July 15th 1999, AppleInsider was first to break a story on Apple Inc.'s internal plans to enter the retail market with a series of stores that would be reminiscent of Gateway's Country Stores. The article, entitled Apple to Take a Stab at Retail with Apple Boutiques, presented background information, inventory analysis, and confidential information surrounding the project, almost two years ago.

Though no official announcement of such venues has been made by Apple, the rumors began to shift towards reality when members of Palo Alto's architectural review board leaked information on plans for the company's inaugural location in Palo Alto, last November.

The 6,581 square foot retail store is expected to open its doors sometime this month, along with stores in two other California locations such as Glendale and Orange County. Meanwhile, plans for stores to pop in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Manhattan, Littleton, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo are also underway. Each store is rumored to conform to the same layout and measure between 5,000 and 6,500 square feet.

Now sources tell AppleInsider that the computer company has already begun operations to deploy a retail location in Minnesota, smack in the middle of Minneapolis. The company is actively seeking trained technical support specialists for many of their up and coming locations, including the Minneapolis store, sources said.

Apparently, most of the hiring process for these locations is being filtered through personnel at the company's Laguna facility in Elk Grove, California. Craig Wells, an employee of the company, has been given the duty of sorting through resumes, sources said.

Each Apple Retail Store location is expected to provide the ideal buying experience for Apple customers — allowing them to ask questions and test drive new models in the care of experienced and dedicated Apple sales personnel. The locations will also serve as venues for new Macintosh hardware and software, as well as service centers, sources said.