The official opening date for Apple's store at Northlake Mall hasn't been announced yet, but rumors at the mall say it could be as soon as next weekend.
A spokesman for Apple wouldn't give the opening date when reached by phone this week. But at the mall, preparations look well underway. The new store, on the second floor next to a Bebe store, is walled off from view by a black barricade with a big, silver Apple logo on the front. Workers can be heard building inside, and there are jobs listings for retail positions at the new store on Apple's website.
CLT Blog gives "around August 25th" as the opening date, citing an unnamed source. IFOAppleStore.com, a major source of Apple store news and rumors, lists Saturday, Aug. 27 as the tentative possible opening date.
At the mall this week, employees weren't quite sure of the opening date, but most thought it would be soon. Some said they thought it would be next weekend, or before Labor Day at the latest. But at least one other employee said she'd heard the Apple store is aiming for early next year.
Apple doesn't usually officially announce opening dates until right before the day. IFOAppleStore just reported three grand openings have been announced for Aug. 20, so if the 27th is in fact the date, the company could send out word any day now. Stay tuned...
Contact us: Are you excited for the new Northlake Apple store? Give Ely a call at 704-358-5041 or email elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Update: Apple readies for Northlake store opening
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19 comments:
YEAH! Its such a hassle goign all the way to southpark. However that was the times my family would get to eat at The Cheesecake Factory... so now can Northlake area get one of those too?
Thank goodness!!!! No one has been able to buy Apple products in Charlotte. What? There is an Apple store in Southpark??? What? You can also buy Apple stuff at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears, Radio Shack, or just abouut anywhere...
Come on! 5 paragraphs about an over hyped electronics company store. What's next? A dealership selling only Hybrid cars in Myers Park? Ooooo-eee!!! Only one could hope!!!
I'm in IT and I find it funny that Apple has such a following. Most people that shop there are computer challenged and are willing to pay more for less functionality...and apparently financially irresponsible too.
Maybe Apple will pay the Situation money too so that he’s not seen using their products…same thing…you buy your cloths at the mall stores…you’re a tool. Buy your computer at the mall, you a dumb tool.
Mr. T, what are cloths? When calling out people for being dumb you may want to make sure your statement is written correctly. Kinda makes YOU seem dumb if you don't.
Umm Mr. T. My husband is also an IT consultant, exclusively apple. He's doing very well for being such a dummy as you say.
I would like to know why Apple opened a store in this mall Northlake has a curfew against kids anyone under 21 is not allowed in the mall after 5pm. These apple store employees will wonder where everyone is just like the rest us in this dead mall.
I reckon Mr T is the typical Apple hater, and I would probably question his IT claim. Apple was nearly defunct in the mid 90s, reinvented itself with some great products, and they're now an industry leader on several fronts. If you don't want an Apple product, dont buy one - simple. Otherwise don't worry about it.
just in time for the holidays. it will definitely open before halloween!
...Apple is a computer...and as more of these are sold the more help that is needed because of the user in general.
Apple users, for the most part...have no business doing anything with it besides web browsing...and for $1200 bucks, you can do that with a lot less of a computer. I never said the product isn't great...it's solid and well made, but it's over kill.
Why don't you folks with Apple stickers on your cars give me $1200...I'll kick you in the crotch and give you a $300 Acer...and apparently we'll all be happy.
Also "Anonymous said..." your husband is a "consultant" I assume because he can't get on FT anywhere. The industry is full of "consultants."
Also, I'm REALLY sure you don't have the skills to rate his skills, so take it to someone that wants to hear it...probably someone at the Apple store.
I'm about to PITY SOME FOOLS around here.
Wow, people really do get angry about everything online...Maybe we should take the rhetoric about a store opening down a notch. I would like to see a "Swift Kick and a $300 Acer" store set up next to the Apple store, however. That would be an interesting retail experiment.
To the sorry person who commented about the teenage ban at North Lake, you sound like an angry teen yourself. We don't give a damn if you don't like it, but that ban on teenagers was the best thing they ever did at NL. We are sick and tired of thug like teens running around, out of control. It's not good for business, and no one should have to put up with them, except their parents.
Who cares if that Apple store fails because of no teens?! I don't! Their fault if that's who they cater to.
I'm so sick of Apple and their 'exclusivity' I could throw up. They can all go to hell.
As for the comments made about Northlake's Curfew, its only on Friday and Sat. nights after 5.
We can shop every other day of the week anytime.. Whats the big deal..
I'll settle that Apple vs PC argument that seems to be going on. First off, the core functionality between a Windows, OS X (Mac), and even a Linux system is not that different. Most concepts translate from OS to OS. If you can do something on one you can do it on the other. Many developers (including most at Google) code on non-Windows machines. Take it for what it's worth. Second, as far as price goes, you can get more bang for your buck with a PC, particularly if you're looking at desktops. However, if you're willing to/can afford to pay a premium a Mackbook may be worth a look. The build quality is generally better and so is the battery life. There is also no PC equivalent to the Air. Finally, it comes down to preference. Try both (or Linux even!) and see which you like. It's just a computer.
I've been both a Mac and a PC user for 27 (gasp!) years, and headed the computer industry market research group at Dataquest (now part of Gartner Group). The previous post is right on; there is little difference in what you can do on one platform versus another. The key differences is how easy it is. My analysts who loved the PC loved it because you could tinker with it, get inside it and make root-level changes or add new capabilities with add-on cards. My analysts who loved the Mac loved it because they didn't HAVE to tinker with it to do exactly what they wanted without coding, buying additional cards or interfaces, etc.
Isn't it wonderful that there are choices for both types of users?
Anonymous 906......ignorance is bliss
Should have gone to Birkdale Village... not the mall that is Northalke, I mean Eastland II.
Northlake will never be Eastland.. It will never be Southpark either.. Who cares... It's still a nice mall..
Apple made a wise choice..hopefully more retailers will realize the underserved north Charlotte area and continue to build @ Northlake..
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