Apple Store 14th Street press preview

We got a chance to preview the new Manhattan Apple Store this morning before the official unveiling tomorrow at 6PM. The store is nicely situated on W. 14th St. and 9th Ave., and while Apple did its best to blend into the existing early 20th century architecture, it's still a hard one to miss. The store itself is lacking the glass elevator of its 5th Ave. counterpart, but makes up for it with an epic three story glass staircase. It's the second-largest Apple Store in the US, with a full floor dedicated to service -- the genius bar can handle about 30 customers per hour. There are 175 employees total, and the store will be open until midnight every day of the week. We asked Ron Johnson, Apple's Senior VP of Retail, about how the growth of Apple into kiosks at other retail establishments such as Best Buy is impacting Apple Retail, and he responded that there's "plenty of room" for both, since Apple just had its best quarter ever in Mac sales and at Apple Stores simultaneously. He did say the ratio of new stores is going to move a bit more in the international direction, since there's a lot of room to grow there. We also asked about Genius Bar wait times, and he assured us that it's something Apple monitors constantly and continues to add staff to address.

Gallery: Apple Store 14th Street press preview

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[Tom @ Dec 6th 2007 2:18PM]

why does NY need that much Apple stores? how much they have now? 4?

[Sneakz @ Dec 6th 2007 2:27PM]

Well Toronto, Ontario, Canada has three and doesn't even have a fifth of New York City's population.

[tigs @ Dec 6th 2007 2:37PM]

Because there is huge demand here. I went to the 5ht Ave Apple store on a random weekday in October and you'd think they were giving away free ipods...it was as crowded as it might have been on Christmas Eve. Additionally, many Europeans are coming over and buying up Apple products in droves b/c of the cheap dollar. Clearly they've done their market research and know that they can support another store here.

[Goo @ Dec 6th 2007 2:44PM]

It's The Big Apple.

[liza @ Dec 6th 2007 8:35PM]

Blame the frigging tourists. People drive and fly from all over the world and US to come to our stores. They don't even BUY stuff. They just walk around mouths agape and take pictures. Sheesh

[D.L. @ Dec 6th 2007 2:27PM]

Glass staircase?

Is Jobs an upskirter?

[Mike @ Dec 6th 2007 3:09PM]

The glass is frosted, you pervert!

[Ben @ Dec 6th 2007 2:29PM]

Where is the biggest Apple store if not New York?

[Ketan @ Dec 6th 2007 3:05PM]

I believe it's the Regent Store in London, UK.

[AlexNC @ Dec 6th 2007 2:41PM]

who cares about a building?

[rv @ Dec 6th 2007 2:58PM]

Engadget!

[Michal G @ Dec 6th 2007 2:44PM]

I'll be there for the heck of it.. 6PM is easy to make.. Woo for NY events.. Any freebies or something?

[js @ Dec 6th 2007 2:54PM]

It would much better if you also decide to cover the opening of every new SonyStyle or the Sony Store.

Go ahead, rank me low.

[BigPana @ Dec 6th 2007 2:59PM]

Or I can just give you a cross so you can crucify yourself.

[js @ Dec 6th 2007 3:02PM]

@BigPana

I'm not catholic, asshat.

[ScOObyDoo @ Dec 6th 2007 3:04PM]

When SonyStyles become the retail success Apple stores have become then I'm sure Engadget will cover those too.

But in reality SonyStyle stores are dark, small and have absolutely nothing on display that you really want to buy. Some of the "flagship" Sony stores have even closed because of poor sales (Chicago Michigan Avenue).

I'm the opposite of an Apple fanboy, but you just have to respect the success these stores have become. They are ALWAYS busy, always selling and are just a nice, fun place to be. Which can't be said for most other computer or electronic retail stores.

[BigPana @ Dec 6th 2007 3:07PM]

@js
No, but you sure love pretending to be the martyr

[BigPana @ Dec 6th 2007 3:07PM]

No, but you sure love pretending to be the martyr

[Jonathan @ Dec 6th 2007 3:13PM]

It looks like there'd be a lot of glare in that store. Last time I checked, the mac screens are pretty glossy.

[NHAnimator @ Dec 6th 2007 3:32PM]

What about the bathrooms? Are they nice? If I'm gonna go into a store to use their bathroom, I'd like to know if they are clean.

Also, if there are wi-fi enabled touchscreens in the bathrooms, I don't need to know about that.

[AyOhKay @ Dec 6th 2007 5:42PM]

I spoke to someone who went to the press release today and they said that there are no customer bathrooms. WOMP WOMP!

[Glancing Aft @ Dec 7th 2007 2:00PM]

that's fairly typical in NY though

[Joelio @ Dec 6th 2007 3:50PM]

I found Tekserve to have the best Apple service. I've been going there for the last 10 years to buy new macs, get macs looked at.

http://www.tekserve.com/

[lance @ Dec 6th 2007 4:24PM]

Is this the space that used to be the Western Beef supermarket? Same building that housed restaurant Markt? near NW corner of 14th and 9th ave? Damn that neighborhood keeps changing...

[Chris Kraynik @ Dec 6th 2007 4:41PM]

Leave it to Engadget to begin reviewing brick and mortar Apple facilities when their fanboy staff runs out of products. ;)

[Thaddeus @ Dec 6th 2007 6:11PM]

And how is it that there isn't one stinking apple store in Washington, DC? I mean really—that's just pathetic

[Dan Reiss @ Dec 8th 2007 10:26PM]

Thadd

"And how is it that there isn't one stinking apple store in Washington, DC? I mean really—that's just pathetic"

Because Apple is smart enough to realize that it is easier to deal with business oriented administrations in Virginia and Maryland than the Politically Correct [code for racist] incompetents in the District of Columbia. It has gotten better under Mayor Fenty but Marion Barry lives on in the guise of 95% of the City Council.

Just look at the criticism of Walmart and demands that they put on Giant that prevent them from opening stores in the District. You would have to be a fool or a masochist to open a retail outlet in DC when the wealthier, more reasonable alternatives are a 15 - 20 minute drive away.

[Skobbolop @ Dec 6th 2007 8:43PM]

uhh.. an apple store! exciting news!

[Teddy @ Dec 6th 2007 9:39PM]

Did Apple decide where to put their Brooklyn store yet ? Downtown would be the most logical choice (multiple subway lines, 4 affluent neighborhoods with a large number of Apple users).

[Mgkwho @ Dec 6th 2007 9:44PM]

30 customers per hour? That seems a little low...AI said it was 100.

-=|Mgkwho

[Isaac @ Dec 6th 2007 10:29PM]

I am going there tomorrow. I hope to see some Engadget guys. I will be the teenager with all his geeky friends >_>

[rcast1986 @ Dec 10th 2007 2:19AM]

No, he's an aspiring Willywonkaist. Leave him alone!