Anonymous Coffee Drinker writes:
Not sure, but I _did_ notice that a number of the conference rooms at the Omni were reserved for Apple Computer today. There were a fair number of people in there… whether they’re having a training session or whether this has something to do with the proposed Apple Store on the Mall, I have no idea… I mean, what explanations do you have for a contingent from Apple coming to Charlottesville?
While we do know that UVA kids love macs and we are absolutely mac lovers (over 50% of you), Charlottesville sounds a little small for an Apple store. Anyone have more deets? All the press by the media might have something to do with this.
Doesn’t Apple have a lot of reps that work at UVA?
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Tagged as: Apple, Charlottesville, mac, Question, Retail, rumor, Store
They don’t even have a retail store in their home town, Cupertino, CA!
Saying they don’t have a retail store in Cupertino is like saying they don’t have a retail store in Falls Church: true, but merely an artifact of where the malls are positioned in those suburban areas. There are plenty of other Apple Stores in neighboring jurisdictions.
I’d be surprised if Charlottesville pulled a full-scale Apple Store with Genius Bar et al., but perhaps Apple is working on an alternative concept for smaller markets. I guess between the local rich types and UVa students with daddy’s credit cards, there’s a disproportionate amount of discretionary income floating around, though.
Apple only controls 8% of the computer market and that appears to be shrinking (with the notable exception in their Ipod products). If over 50% if Charlottesville residents own Mac’s (really……..) then this would be the perfect place to open a retail outlet…..
I know there’s lot of other folks looking there, but I think a funky Apple store at the old A&N kills.
Alarac, um…
http://www.apple.com/companystore/
And Thor, I think the Cville Weekly owes you a retroactive hat tip as the source for their article in the March 18th issue.
They already have a semi store at the UVa Bookstore, but the real deal would rock.
dan from eppie’s:
you killed it, as in hit the nail on the head.
there is no better location for (apple store) or addition to the downtown mall.
hear hear!
and i got into a friendly yet butting heads discussion as to the future of satellitte ballroom/national younger (not even that young) person venue until the jefferson opened up.
i still say it looks a bit bleak come May…
/back on topic- apple at the former A & N spcae=manna from heaven…
An apple store? I think a store dedicated to one kind of fruit will fail.
/braces for the kicking
HIgh, what you mean?
I seriously doubt we’re getting an Apple Store. I’d say a vast majority of their sales are to people affiliated with UVA, and they will continue to deal with Cavalier Computers. In the event that we did get one, I don’t think they’d put it on the downtown mall. If you read about the success of their stores, it is based upon their ability to draw in retail foot traffic, which the downtown mall has very little of. (Yes, it has tons of foot traffic. Retail foot traffic, not so much). And even if one were to open here, Barracks seems like a much more likely location.
JoshC - NO, NOT TRUE! People, there is OF COURSE an Apple store in Cupertino - it’s located right inside Apple’s big ol’ complex. Yes, I’ve been there.
And Thor, CVille Weekly reported this rumor last week:
Issue #20.12 :: 03/18/2008 - 03/24/2008
Downtown + hotel = Apple store on Mall?
http://c-ville.com/index.php?cat=141404064435450&ShowArticle_ID=11431703084511014
I was just saying, that since we all know you’re the only one that gets the hot scoops around town e.g., the Ballroom, someone at CVille obviously owes you a retroactive hat tip as the source for the Apple store rumor. Just because they used time travel to steal the scoop from cVillain, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t credit the source. Right?
That is a massive leap from seeing some room reserved for Apple at the Omni to having an Apple Store on the downtown mall. But it would be cool - the only thing I drive to Short Pump for is the Apple store.
Don’t think it’s an apple store. Just had the following email forwarded to me:
“Love pizza?
Love Apple?
Want to get the most out of your Mac?
Want to learn more about how great Macs are?
If so, come to Newcomb 168 at 4:00 TOMORROW!!! (Wednesday)”
Sounds like its just some kind of grassroots marketing if you ask me, getting people to buy accessories, software, etc. Which is totally fine…I heart macs.
[…] of you probably recall our rumor from back in March about an Apple Store coming to Charlottesville. While we don’t have any more concrete evidence, we did hear through the grapevine that two […]