Apple is set to reveal new Macs on Thursday at what will likely be the last special event hosted at the company’s 1 Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino. Early next year Apple’s giant Campus 2 headquarters will open and include a dedicated theater for these types of events, so the surprise Mac event is one last hurrah for the current Apple HQ.
And even though it may be about to be replaced with something bigger and better, 1 Infinite Loop does have something fairly new of its own: a dedicated Apple Store that reopened last fall. Apple’s campus store has always sold exclusive collectables like T-shirts and pens, and the Jony Ive-designed retail store adds Apple products just like traditional Apple Stores.
The shirt styles and souvenirs offered change regularly, but head below to see what you can expect to find at the 1 Infinite Loop Apple Store that’s not sold anywhere else if you visit.
The 1 Infinite Loop Apple Store is just as accessible to the public as any other retail location — save for limited parking spaces at peak shopping hours. You can order Apple products for pickup or walk in and buy iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Macs just as you would expect. The front of the store is open to the public during business hours (and there’s even a hidden door to a restroom) but you won’t find any path to Apple’s corporate headquarters inside.
The 1 Infinite Loop Apple Store is wide but small so you won’t find iPhone or Mac repairs or training workshops taking place, but you can buy headphones, cases, and other accessories too. Products are on display to try for yourself and Apple Store staff is just as helpful as other Apple Stores.
The real reason to visit this store, of course, is the unique Apple gear that you can buy here and nowhere else. This includes shirts, coffee mugs, thermal water bottles, notebooks, and more. The merchandise changes from time to time, but this is what you can expect to find if you visit anytime soon.
The entrance is marked with a pillar that says ‘Store’ so you know it’s safe to just walk inside unlike the rest of Apple’s campus.
The design looks like one-half of other new Apple Stores with hardware and accessories available and really nothing else. A giant display (that’s rather warm to the touch) shows the latest promotional material.
The all-glass front makes the narrow store feel more open than it really is. Well lit too.
The shirt collection on the left back wall is half of what makes the 1 Infinite Loop Apple Store unique. Two sections display 16 different options. Half are black, the other half colored. Black shirts have special designs, while colored shirts have Apple logos on the front. All shirts have a small Apple logo on the back plus 1 Infinite Loop to show that you visited the headquarters.
The black shirts tend to change with the season. For example, the Mac timeline shirt next to the Siri shirt was a new arrival (no leaks about future Macs included). Sizes include S-XL with prices generally at $29, and youth sizes at $25 are available but with far fewer options (orange, pink, blue, and a leftover WWDC game controller design in black). You can pick up and purchase any shirt that you find on the shelf, or ask for help if you need someone to check for your size in the back.
The other half of what makes the store unique is this collection on the right back wall. You can find lined and blank hardcover notebooks with inset Apple logos in small and large sizes of various colors. These range in price from $19 to $29 depending on size and paper type. You can also buy Apple logo ballpoint ink pens in silver, gold, and rose gold for $35 each. These are from a company called Retro 51 out of Texas which offers replacement ink barrels. (The specific style is called Tornado Rollerball, you can find non Apple branded versions online.)
Finally, there are coffee mugs and thermal bottles. The Apple logo coffee mugs are made of porcelain in Japan and available in three colors (white, gray, or black) and two sizes (small and large) for $25 or $29. The large mugs are plenty big enough for an 8 oz cup of coffee (with lots of room to spare) and they’re well weighted so they don’t feel cheap. When buying a mug, you’ll want to let someone know which style you prefer as the floor models are just for display and not packaged.
The thermal bottles sport Apple logos too, although it’s more visible on the white version than the silver version. These 17 ounce bottles sell for $35 each and promise to keep liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. These Apple branded bottles come from a company called S’well that makes the same bottles in other designs as well.
Overall, the 1 Infinite Loop Apple Store provides very cool experience if you get the chance to visit. Your bill can rack up surprisingly fast if you want to collect all of the special merchandise so plan accordingly! More hands-on photos follow:
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