Let the comparisons begin—the Apple store at The Shops at Mission Viejo (S. Calif.) will re-open after a major remodeling at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, just 360 feet away from the Microsoft store that opened in the mall on October 29th. The Apple store is on the same level and within the same hallway as the Microsoft store, but the two are nearly invisible when standing in front of either store. The Apple store closed September 14th for what the company described as a “remodel,” part of an on-going project involving nearly 90 stores this year. However, the length of the closure seems to indicate that major construction work was performed inside the black barricade. The Microsoft store has most of the same design elements as Apple’s stores, and it’s not clear if Apple will make major changes to the store design in order to differentiate it from its new neighbor. read more…

Apple continues to rush towards Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season, by opening two more retail stores this weekend in New England—Greenwich Avenue (Conn.) and Pheasant Lane (Nashua, NH). The former store adds to coverage in the metro New York City region, while the latter location adds a second store to New Hampshire, but really seems fill in coverage for the far north metro Boston region. Both grand openings are set for 10 a.m. Apple typically schedules most building construction, employee hiring and other new store tasks so they open in the last four months of the calendar year, in order to maximize the number of stores open for holiday shopping. Only one other store opening has been confirmed—the Bockenheimer Straße store in Frankfurt (Germany) on December 5th.

Whatever it takes to excite New Yorkers, it’s not a $40 million Apple store, with a 35-foot tall glass façade and 45-foot stone walls and a spiral glass staircase and set on a conspicuous Broadway street corner in Manhattan. Fewer than 20 people weathered an irritating all-night drizzle in front of the new Upper West Side retail store Friday night to be the first-in-line, and an hour before the 10 a.m. opening fewer than 400 were waiting to get inside. By any other account, the grand opening was a huge success, with a friendly staff, a landmark building and—ultimately—one more place to buy Apple products, take training classes and receive technical support. View a gallery of photos of the waiting line and grand opening.
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Just after 4 p.m. a 15 year-old local boy became the first person in line at the new Upper West Side Apple store, layered with three New York Jets sweatshirts and a wool cap. The time before his arrival was rather slow, with only one visible employee training session held on the giant display floor for the new iPod touch point-of-sale (POS) devices. There were no receptions or friends-and-family parties tonight. At about 6 p..m. Apple’s security team erected 20 feet of stanchions to the right of the front door for the short waiting line: Matthew, Ian and myself. The weather didn’t change all day—about 50 degrees and very gusty winds. It stayed dry until about 8:45 p.m., when it began to sprinkle rain. See a gallery of today’s photos. read more…

According to Ron Johnson, “Our stores are too small.” That may be hard to believe, since the Sr. V-P for Apple Retail was standing in the largest single interior space of any Apple store on the planet, the Upper West Side (NYC) store set to open on Saturday at 10 a.m. But he was serious, telling reporters at a press briefing for the new location that future stores will be larger. On Thursday there were more cleaning activities, both inside and out. Scaffolding and scissor lifts hoisted workers into the top levels of the front glass, as passersby continued to gawk and make comments. By 8 p.m. equipment was in place to begin cleaning the Italian stone floor one more time. View a gallery of today’s photos, and follow the grand opening events live at twitter/ifostore.
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On Wednesday evening workers removed the plastic covering over the enormous glass storefront of the Upper West Side (NYC) retail store at 67th Street and Broadway, revealing a single, stone-walled room lit by ceiling lights at night, and flooded with sunlight during the day. Besides the ground-level space with four rows of display tables, there is spiral glass staircase leading down to a lower level, presumably the same size as the 8,500 square-foot main level. The size and scale of the store, and the amount of stone that was used both eclipse any previous Apple store project. The only stainless steel visible is on the huge backlit Apple logo suspended from the inside ceiling. View a photo gallery of the store.
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Apple has announced that the Chermside (Brisbane) retail store will hold its grand opening this Saturday at 10 a.m. It will be the first store for the Brisbane region and the sixth store in the country. The store is set inside the Westfield Chermside shopping mall, north of city center.

First it was EasyPay portable computers that made holiday shopping faster at Apple’s retail stores during the holiday sales rush, and then came dedicated areas to grab-and-go an iPod or laptop. Now Apple hopes to make store shopping even quicker with its new Reserve and Pick Up service, which allows buyers to shop on-line for products, reserve them, and then pick them up and pay any time between December 15th and 24th. The new service includes the option of gift wrapping for the items. Those using the service must log in with their Apple ID. The service seems to offer two advantages for buyers—they can defer payment and product availability is guaranteed as late as Christmas eve. Apple stores will apparently have a “Pick Up” counter designated for those who have reserved products. However, for a single item, it’s not clear if a buyer’s actual visit time will be less than if they simply purchase the item at the grab-and-go counter normally used for holiday sales.

Thousands of visitors from several countries visited the new Carrousel du Louvre (Paris) store on Saturday, including a hearty band of 22 who began the wait outside the famous Louvre Museum in 40-degree temperatures and rain. There were at least 500 in line at 10 a.m. to examine the country’s first Apple store, which also provided a surprise glimpse of the new iPod touch point-of-sale (POS) device. The long, L-shaped Genius Bar on the mezzanine level attracted many early visitors to the store, who brought their laptop or iPod and were hoping for a quick solution. The remainder of the crowd was mixed between those admiring the store and many interested in a specific Apple product. Beyond the obvious success of the Louvre store grand opening, the event kicks off the second year of increased international growth for the chain. The economic downturn and the large number of existing stores has slowed growth in the United States. Apple executives have said nearly 50 stores will open in fiscal 2010, with “the majority” being outside the United States. read more…

The day before the grand opening of the Carrousel du Louvre (Paris) retail store was busy for Apple, but quiet for the waiting line, which by 7 p.m. number just five persons. Arthur arrived as the first person in line at 1:52 p.m., followed by the second at 2:48 p.m. So far we have representatives from France, Germany and the United States. Today there were tours and visits, first in the afternoon from what appeared to be local business people, and then at 5 p.m. from friends and family of the store staff. Each session was passionate and excited, especially as the visitors entered—the employees crowded the stairs and mezzanine railing to clap and shout. Both times the displays of enthusiasm drew scores of people to the front window, and generated questions to staff at the front door—When is the store opening? The mall closes at 11 p.m., and the waiting line anticipates moving up to ground level, within the courtyard of the Louvre buildings, in a garden area that has been set up to accommodate a large line. According to Apple officials, the line will be allowed back into the mall some time after it opens at 8:30 a.m., and will will then regain their original position along the wall next to the front door. View photos of the day.  [I'll be out of contact between 11 p.m. and about 9 a.m. because of the relocation, and won't be posting reports.]

Apple will open a store in Stuttgart (Germany), possibly during the first part of 2010. The exact location of the store hasn’t been identified, but a source has said that the store will open “soon.” The store would be the third store in the country, after Hamburg and Munich.

The grand opening of the Upper West Side (NYC) retail store has been scheduled for Saturday, November 14th at 10 a.m. The store’s Web site repeats the theme of the red velvet curtain currently covering the glass façade of the store. Previous Manhattan stores have opened on Fridays at 6 p.m., it’s not clear why Apple chose this day of the week and time.

Rather than overpower one of the world’s great treasures, the new Carrousel du Louvre (Paris ) Apple store presents a proper yet distinctive appearance. The architects have taken a very minimalist approach to the underground storefront, essentially just using glass to fill open spaces in the perimeter walls facing a huge, inverted glass triangle that showers the store with soft light. None of the original stone walls were touched, a sign of remarkable restraint, even though the walls only date to the 1980s when the underground shopping center was built. There are no outward changes to the structure or façade that indicates “Apple.” Inside, however, the traditional design emerges: stone floors, wood tables, a spiral glass staircase to a mezzanine level, a large back-lit Apple logo suspended overheard, and lots of stainless steel. read more…

The Apple stores will soon dump their current Windows-based portable computers and begin using customized iPod touch devices to wirelessly process customer credit and debit cards and, for the first time, to allow all employees to accept cash for purchases. According to information reviewed by IFO, Apple has designed and manufactured a slip-on plastic shell for the touch that combines a magnetic stripe reader and advanced barcode reader. The EasyPay touch will run Apple-developed point-of-sale software that is specific to Apple stores, including special screens to make iPhone purchases easier and quicker. The new system will allow credit card purchases to be made directly on the touch, but debit card transactions will require customers to enter their PIN on the existing desktop POS terminals. Employees equipped with a touch will be able to accept cash through an electronic link-up to cash drawers installed within the store. More details on the new EasyPay touch system and photos are posted on the AppleInsider Web site.

The grand opening of a grand Carrousel de Louvre (Paris) Apple store is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, and IFO will be there cover all aspects of the waiting line, the opening ceremonies and the store interior design. There is a chance of rain every day this week, and temperatures on in the low 50s, so rain gear and an umbrella is required. There are Apple store enthusiastics coming from several countries in Europe to cover the event and to join the waiting line. Keep an eye on twitter/ifostore for on-going updates starting Thursday afternoon, and this Web site for full reports—as I’m able to transmit them from the underground shopping center.