Roger Fingas
Apple is reportedly taking advantage of a $1 billion overhaul at Los Angeles's Westfield Century City mall on Santa Monica Boulevard to launch a new, much larger store in the facility.
The shop will be based in the center of the mall, next to a Peloton outlet and across from Rolex, according to a MacRumors source. Westfield is planning to complete its renovations by the end of 2017, which could mean the Apple store will be ready by then or shortly thereafter.
A photo of a black construction facade suggests the new shop will be dramatically bigger than the current Century City location, which dates back to 2005. Apple is now a much wealthier company, and the existing store is likely both overcrowded and lacking in space to showcase every product, much less host Today at Apple events.
The rumor would fit in with broader Apple retail trends, which in most circumstances have seen U.S. spending concentrate on renovations and relocations rather than new stores. Even the company's Fifth Avenue outlet in New York City is undergoing an expansion, despite the costs of building underground and its status as a major tourist destination.
There are some exceptions. Major new outlets are coming to the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C., and Michigan Avenue in Chicago, the latter of which will be ready Oct. 20.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
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A little editing is necessary here:
Apple is reportedly taking advantage of a $1 billion overhaul at Los Angeles's Westfield Century City mall on Santa Monica Boulevard to launch a new, much larger
storetown square in the facility.The
shoptown square will be based in the center of the mall, next to a Peloton outlet and across from Rolex, according to a MacRumors source. Westfield is planning to complete its renovations by the end of 2017, which could mean the Applestoretown square will be ready by then or shortly thereafter.A photo of a black construction facade suggests the new
shoptown square will be dramatically bigger than the current Century City location, which dates back to 2005. Apple is now a much wealthier company, and the existingstoretown square is likely both overcrowded and lacking in space to showcase every product, much less host Today at Apple events.An official photo of the present Century City
storetown square.The rumor would fit in with broader Apple retail trends, which in most circumstances have seen U.S. spending concentrate on renovations and relocations rather than new
storestown squares. Even the company's Fifth Avenueoutlettown square in New York City is undergoing an expansion, despite the costs of building underground and its status as a major tourist destination.There are some exceptions. Major new
outletstown squares are coming to the Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C., and Michigan Avenue in Chicago, the latter of which will be ready Oct. 20.@Tyler82,
I'm not sure if you're poking fun at Apple's new name for their stores, but you're right.... they are now called Town Squares. What happens when they have a circular store, though? Do they call it Town Round?
@tyler82
It was my understanding that traditional
mall Stores/non Apple buildings were Stores but actual Apple buildings with events and meeting spots were Town Squares.
I have to wonder what the long term future is for pretty well all Retail.
With the news that ToyRUS has filed for Chapter 11
FCUK is more than likely soon to follow as is BestBuy
it seems that the score so far is
Amazon 10 Retail 0
It seems that the only bright spot is Apple but for how long? Perhaps this move to make the store more of a destination is an attempt to counter the Amazonification of Retail?