Apple Stores in the News (Aug 12, 2009)

Apple is known to be opening as many as three new retail stores this weekend, yet the company seems to be focusing on upgrading existing ones rather than on opening stores at new locations, ifoAppleStore reports.

Stores to be remodeled

The source dealing exclusively with news and information about Apple’s retail initiatives reveals that “Apple continues to focus its retail attentions on upgrading existing stores, more than opening stores at new locations,” citing tipsters who say that Apple’s International Plaza (Fla.) store is one of the retail establishments on track for remodeling. “There is now a long list of stores closed for remodeling, along with several that will receive future make-overs,” ifo adds, posting a list of stores known to be currently closed for remodeling. Those are: Saddle Creek, Walden, Mayfair, Twelve Oaks, Southdale, Walnut Creek, Barton Creek, Annapolis, Perimeter and The Pier.

“The closures range from 10 days to nearly three weeks, and involve stores that opened before August, 2006,” the report also informs. Apple itself confirmed that it planned to remodel 100 stores this fiscal year, with as many as 50 having received a makeover in the last two years.

Stores to open (Grand-Openings)

With 25 stores scheduled to open this year (worldwide), three Grand Openings are crammed in this following weekend alone, ifoAppleStore reveals in a different report. “In a year of few grand openings in the United States, Apple will open three new stores this weekend: the Main Place location in Naperville (Ill.), at the store at Reston Town Center (Virg.), and at the huge Square One mall outside Toronto (Ont.).”

Again citing company officials, ifo reports that Apple plans to open only 25 news stores this fiscal year, compared to 51 during fiscal 2008. Additionally, most of the stores scheduled for fiscal 2009 will open in international locations, the source says. Out of the 25, Apple has so far opened 13 new ones, seven of those opened outside the US.