Apple will be closing its official Company Store at its 1 Infinite Loop campus later this month and plans to relaunch a modernized version of it this fall, according to sources familiar with the plans.
Notices on Apple’s campus (pictured below) confirming the upcoming renovations read: “Architectural and Site Approval to allow facade improvements of approximately 102 linear feet of an existing office building.” But Apple has much more planned than just a fresh coat of paint, according to sources.
The company store, pictured above, has long been the only place to purchase Apple-branded clothing and other items, but it never sold Macs or most products the company sells through its retail stores. The company store was, however, open to the public for visitors to the campus in addition to Apple employees.
So how does Apple plan to revamp the store? We’re told that part of the plan will be to modernize the space and possibly include historical items from the company. Historical items could turn the store into a half-museum of sorts and make the store an even more popular stop for visitors to the campus.
We’ve also heard that Apple might do away with merchandise bearing the Apple logo for the new store as part of these changes. So you’ll want to hit up the store before it closes as they clear out current stock if you want an Apple t-shirt or hat.
Whether or not the new store might be part of Jony Ive’s new plans to take on retail in his new position as Chief Design Officer is unclear, but not unlikely.
Apple plans to shut down the company store on June 12 as WWDC wraps up in nearby San Francisco and reopen later this year in the fall.
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good blog…nice information….
About time! It had a weird flow to it!
I spent way too much money when I visited the Apple Company Store, but I love the jacket and shirts I bought. Really neat stuff there. Perhaps Apple could expand their branded clothing to their retail stores to coincide with their fashion push a la Apple Watch?
If in fact Apple won’t sell products with Apple logos on them anymore, those of us who bought lots of this stuff in years past will no doubt be putting things on eBay or selling to red light runner if it still exists.
I’ve been in that store dozens of times from 1985 through 2000 and always picked up things.
Seems like they would hold off on a remodel until after they open the new campus next year.
SERIOUSLY?? I’m going to california for the first time the weekend of July 4th. This is the one thing I was mostly looking forward to, and they CLOSE IT UNTIL FALL. 2 weeks before. Wow
Me as well- visiting Cupertino for my first time just the weekend before. :(
Add me to the list. I’m headed to San Fran July 31 – Aug 5 and was hoping to slip down to the Mothership and get some more swag. So depressing……
Me too. What a sad, sad day.
Hopefully it’s a decent update. Last time I was there almost everything Apple branded just felt like they slapped an iron on logo on a blank shirt/mug/pen rather than it being something made specifically for the Apple Store
I hope they expand the visitor parking lot in front of IL1. Otherwise, good luck finding a spot.
“We’ve also heard that Apple might do away with merchandise bearing the Apple logo for the new store as part of these changes. So you’ll want to hit up the store before it closes as they clear out current stock if you want an Apple t-shirt or hat.”
It’s beyond dorky to wear an Apple hat or shirt. It’s similar to seeing people with the Apple logo stuck to their rear vehicle window or people putting huge “HONDA” decals across their front windshield.
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I AM EXCITED! But seriously, don’t do away the iconic APPLE logo. It is the reason so many of us nerds keep coming back!