ifoAppleStore has posted pictures of the new Steve Jobs designed glass cube that sits above Apples new flagship store in Manhattan. Workers began pealing away the black plastic covering the massive 32-foot-by-32-foot structure at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday evening. After the unveiling it was revealed that this cube has a large white Apple logo suspended in the upper-middle of the cube. I am sure it will look even more amazing once the cube is lit. The Apple Store, Fifth Avenue is located at 767 Fifth Avenue at 59th Street and will have it’s grand opening tomorrow night (5/19/2006) at 6:00 PM. Steve Jobs is expected make an appearance. The store is also believed to be a test bed for new Apple Retail store innovations, as such, it will be the first location to be open 24-hours a day and may also be open 365 days a year.
Update: MacWorld posted these amazing pics from inside the store. The glass spiral staircase is unbelievable.
The 10,000 square foot store is completely underground aside from the glass cube which is the entrance to a staircase in the middle. It will not sport a theatre but it does boast a 45 foot long Genius Bar which will home 300 Genius’; 96 of which will be full time. This is obviously to accommodate the 24 hour opening but is still a lot. I guess NY is busy in the Mac market.
The store is also situated in such a way that you can look up through the hole (viz. natural light enhancing feature) and see the skyscrapers at a pretty cool angle by the look of it. That alone is worth a visit for non-Mac loving friends and family members.
There is also a MacBook give away rumor going around… I wish I could be there just in case.
Nice 5 minute video about the store (with video from inside the store) on CNET.
http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6073835.html?tag=vid&autoplay=true#mgallery
One bit of irony: The video is sponsored by…. Microsoft!
The store looks great, I am sure that it will be an amazing sight.
As we speak there are lmost likely some ardent mac faithfuls out there gearing up for a pilgramige, like the Hajj to Mecca.
I did have one thought about the glass cube: is’nt it alot like the glass pyramid that the architech I.M.Pei designed for the underground enterence at the Louvre.
Look it up and see what you think.
The store looks great, I am sure that it will be an amazing sight.
As we speak there are lmost likely some ardent mac faithfuls out there gearing up for a pilgramige, like the Hajj to Mecca.
I did have one thought about the glass cube: is’nt it alot like the glass pyramid that the architech I.M.Pei designed for the underground enterence at the Louvre.
Look it up and see what you think.
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pyramide_du_Louvre.html
I’m digging the elevator in the middle of the stairs. Willy Wonka would be envious. Doesn’t even look like there’s an elevator there.
Live from New York…..
I got in around 7:00 p.m. or so…. Very upbeat, very loud. Like the subway during rush hour, right now it’s a population density experiment. Wish it had the theatre like the SoHo store.
Got two t-shirts. :)
Will be interesting to see this place at 2:00 a.m. a few weeks from now.
Who would have thought that Steve Jobs would become the best spokesperson for Windex?
wtf was with that video. it took years to download and then it was about microsoft. wtf