First Apple Store rumored to debut in Philadelphia
MacNN reports that Apple has agreed to lease the former Brasserie Perrier restaurant at 1619 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
Despite having a retail presence in eight of the top 10 U.S. cities it has puzzled many as to why Apple hasn't opened a retail store in the City of Brotherly Love (the 5th largest city in the U.S.). Detroit is the other snubbed city.
- New York, NY (3 stores)
- Los Angeles, CA (3)
- Chicago, IL (1)
- Houston, TX (3)
- Philadelphia, PA (0)
- San Diego, CA (2)
- Detroit, MI (0)
- Dallas, TX (1)
- Phoenix, AZ (1)
- San Antonio, TX (2)
According to ifoAppleStore BPs Walnut Street location has been rumored to be under consideration by Apple dating back to 2006. Brasserie Perrier closed on January 2...
...after the building owner reportedly negotiated a renewal buy-out option from the restaurant owner, who had been paying $19 per square-foot. The building owner hopes to attract a new occupant willing to pay the $57 per square-foot going rate for the Walnut Street area.
The PowerPage's Kenn Marks notes that Apple didn't open a store in Pittsburgh so MacOutfitters, a Doylestown, PA-based reseller, opened a location in the former U.S. Steel building. According to the owners they are seeing a brisk business.
The Brasserie Perriere Web site now re-directs to Table 31, a steakhouse bistro by George Perrier and Chris Scarduzio located in the new Comcast Center.
Tip: Jonathan Hass, Photo: AppleInsider