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June 14, 2006

stores

Boston Apple Store back from drawing board?

Posted Jun. 14, ’06, 12:01 PM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Apple » Stores

Back Bay SkylineAfter the construction of the 24/7 Apple Mecca in New York, my hopes are high for the planned flagship store in my hometown of Boston. Apple has been planning to build a store in the Back Bay district (home to plenty of high-end shopping) for some time now, but they’d run into some difficulties with the Back Bay Architectural Committee, who were not thrilled about the idea of demolishing an existing building to make way for a new one. Apple went back to the drawing board and came up with new plans for integrating the store better with the surrounding area.

The proposed plans have three floors worth of retail space and a full-size basement for staff, totaling 22,116 square feet. Included in the design is a spiral staircase in the center of the store. Apple had previously delayed two hearings with the committee, because, according to the company’s representative in this case, Stephen Miller, “they just weren’t ready. They spend a lot of time with these signature stores, and they don’t rush into anything.”

I’m glad that Apple is sensitive to this issue. While Back Bay is a very swank and upscale area, it has a lot of history in it as well. Demolishing buildings is very hard in a city that has as ridiculous a number of historical landmarks as Boston does. Hopefully, the plans will meet with the committee’s approval, and we’ll have a new store in no time.

[Photo by Aiyaz Husain]


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