Apple's Grand Central Store Opens (PHOTOS)

Apple on Friday treated New Yorkers to the official opening of its Grand Central mega-store.

Occupying the roomy area behind the east and northeast balconies, overlooking the terminal's Main Concourse, the shop will employ 315 Apple sales experts and will offer ample display tables and three Genius Bars, as well as dedicated rooms where people can set up new devices and learn how to operate them, according to a press release from the company.
Apple paid the former occupant, Charlie Palmer's Metrazur restaurant, $5 million to vacate the space, reports the Wall Street Journal.

At 23,000 square feet, the Grand Central store is one of the largest in Apple's global chain. It is estimated that more than 750,000 people pass through the terminal per day; during the holidays, that number soars to over 1 million.

New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority will rake in over $1 million per year as a result of the Apple's lease on the terminal's balcony space, although some have pointed out that Apple may have signed on for a sweeter deal than other Grand Central tenants. Writes CBS New York, the MTA "collects 'percentage rent' from every retailer except Apple. That is because the retailer cut a deal with the MTA for a straight lease, totaling about $1 million a year." New York's Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions is currently investigating the 10-year agreement between Apple and the MTA, according to Pix 11.

The store is Apple's fifth location in Manhattan.

Take a look at the slideshow (below) to see photos from the new Grand Central Apple Store.

Comments

[Whogivesafox]

04:14 PM on 12/13/2011

Sales experts? HA!

[Suanne]

12:32 AM on 12/13/2011

How timely was this news today . . . http://www.subasf.com/blog/

[iamwired]

01:11 PM on 12/12/2011

I went to this store yesterday. Where and how was this found grand or beautiful?? Its just a bunch of tables on the mezanine with Ipads screwed in, and a small room in the back with accessories. Horrible looking and not exciting to see at all. Walked in, walked out. The Apple store at my local mall is 10 times nicer looking.

[frank day]

09:26 AM on 12/11/2011

I'll bet there are already knockoff versions in china.

[kapalabhati]

04:02 PM on 12/11/2011

Before it opened.

[artist-53]

08:20 AM on 12/11/2011

Stunning looking!

A visual blend of computer technology and exquisite architecture .

Apple designed its store to fit seamlessly with the structure. The Station itself , is an historic beautiful example of when artisans predominated the building industry .

[iamwired]

04:14 PM on 12/12/2011

Did you actually see the store? Or is this a discription from the Apple web site?

[artist-53]

04:48 PM on 12/12/2011

iamwired, No I was never in the store, but I got a good sense of what the New Store looked like via pics here, .

I then did a search on Grand Central and was able to view many photos as well as videos , of the structure , over the years.

It's a magnificent structure and I don't feel that Apple has detracted from the beauty of the historic structure at all.

So to answer your question, I wrote the comment by self, and did not get it from a copy paste or any other site. Just my own opinion. Key words , "My Own Opinion".

..but if you thought I may have gotten it from an Apple site, maybe I ought to apply to Apple for a job:-)

[gorgol]

08:05 AM on 12/11/2011

I just got an IPHONE 4s. I'd much rather fill the coffers of APPLE than the "do no harm" GOOGLE.
Do No Harm my fanny.

[khif]

07:50 AM on 12/11/2011

I just don't understand this love affair with apple... I use them at work graphic designer, they check a fantastic email and the monitors have fantastic color for print... As far as I can tell the real defining difference between them is fashion. Fashion and an odd since of originality that comes from being part of there clique. I mean no offense, I just don't understand.

Most of the people here are Left leaning like myself. Yet you are absolutely in love with this corporation that's never really done anything for anybody... (or if they have I'm not aware... and I don't mean good customer service...) other than destroy the beauty of the "album" as far as music is concerned. Wouldn't it be more anti-corporate to use stuff like Ubuntu and Linux and just build your own computers? Or I guess that's too hard?

I promise it's going to take more than white ear phones to sway me though. It's also going to take more than the Rainbow wheel of happiness. BUT if you love them that's your business, I just don't understand. shrug,,,

[artist-53]

08:42 AM on 12/11/2011

khif,perhaps you needn't concern yourself with the question,

"I just don't understand this love affair with apple..."_khif

Here's a few reasons.

"It's no secret that the iPad is a hit in the healthcare industry, but doctors love more than just the sleek tablet. A study earlier this year showed that a full 75 percent of US physicians owned some sort of Apple device."

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Blogs/29989

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/12/09/doctors-list-why-they-love-apple-products-and-miss-steve/

[khif]

06:24 AM on 12/12/2011

It's very cool that they do, but still... I am left with the question; how are they any less evil in their business practices than other companies that I hold to the coals?

[Yank in France]

02:10 AM on 12/12/2011

Its the viruses and bugs. Between Windows and Apple, both systems catch them, but they are ingrained within Windows and MS products from day one and never leave them, whereas Apple does everything within its power to eliminate ALL of them. And when they appear, Apple moves quickly to eliminate them.

I have no antivirus, antibug or email protection software to update DAILY, but my Mac computer is bug and virus free!!

That said, every electronic device presents its problems which is why we all need good customer services.

On the negative side, I am now so spoiled by Apple's quick and professional solution hotline, that I have become intolerant toward other companies' hotlines!!

[khif]

06:42 AM on 12/12/2011

I totally get it about virus's and bugs, Apple has truly worked there way to the top in that department, even Steve Jobs took customer service calls from what I understand, I mean who can argue with that.

Still though, aren't their business practices... a little monopolistic, and they produce tons of waste with extravagant packaging? If they could just get behind Open Source man I could really be with it.

[DJ K-Sea]

07:46 AM on 12/11/2011

That's one Ugly Apple Store! Looks like a bank, which of course kinda fits their product line.

[Benny]

07:43 AM on 12/11/2011

Good for New York. Here in Indianapolis there's one Apple store inconveniently located on the north side of town. Makes things difficult for everyone else who needs or wants to go to the Apple store. It's in the most rich part of town. Meaning Apple really doesn't care about the rest of us. And the store is small too.

[Yank in France]

02:13 AM on 12/12/2011

Don't take it that way, Benny. Just go to the rich part of town to treat yourself to a superior product. I also live in a poor section of Granada, Spain these days but I LOVE the Apple store in the historic center of this ancient city. And now there is a new store in this town of 220,000. Incredible!

Have a good day.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

07:32 AM on 12/11/2011

Wow. Another cell phone store. Why has this story been on the front page for two days?

[Whogivesafox]

04:17 PM on 12/13/2011

Paid advertising.

[BadIdeas]

06:33 AM on 12/11/2011

Shame.

How many homeless minority gay mothers could have been sheltered in green buildings, given free education, and unlimited vegan meals?

[spinotter11]

07:51 AM on 12/11/2011

I agree with you. The USA has its priorities all wrong. Thanks for standing up for the dispossessed in our society. We need more Americans like you.

[Yank in France]

02:14 AM on 12/12/2011

Egads, Badideas, I agree we need to shelter the homeless in America, but how can you criticize Apple for occupying that space while not levelling the same criticism at other companies?!!

[D-Driller]

06:16 AM on 12/11/2011

Why is the liberal media so enamored with Apple? You can't go two days here on HuffPo without an article about them. This is one of the top 5 largest companies in America - it IS the "1%"...

[artist-53]

08:46 AM on 12/11/2011

I'm a 99'er and I own 2 iMac's and iPad2 , and because I'm a 99'er, I had to make certain that the money spent was going to provide me with the best for my money. I can't afford to take a computer to a shop, or buy a pc every other year. So it's a matter of quality

[FreelanceWriter]

05:04 PM on 12/11/2011

It's not like PC's aren't "quality." For crying out loud, I've worked in professional publishing and art graphics for 20 years and have used BOTH Apples and PCs. The result? No real difference.

And unless I'm the luckiest guy in the world, I've NEVER had any problems with the PC's versus the Macs I've both used and owned in terms of hardware breaking down. In fact, if anything, all of my PCs actually held up better. Furthermore, with BOTH a Mac or a PC you can make the argument that you'd want to rotate out the equipment every few years simply based on ever-advancing chips and processing speed. Again, having worked through the years with multiple versions of things like the Adobe Suite, as well as loads of other programs, I've basically found you'll want to switch EITHER computer -- be it a Mac or a PC -- out every 3 to 4 years simply so the actual PROGRAMS will run smoother given that THEY were written for ever-faster processing crunch power.

Which brings us to the final comparison -- cost. And when it comes time to switch out a computer every few years, there's no question PCs cost less given the RIDICULOUS mark up Apple does with its components. The prices they charge for an iMac these days are near highway robbery given what you can comparatively build in a PC for far less money -- heck, EASILY cutting the price between 30 to 40%.

[Whogivesafox]

04:26 PM on 12/13/2011

Why are right wing loonies always looking for ways to criticize the so-called "liberal media"?

[Strza]

05:40 AM on 12/11/2011

Funny how quickly the story switched from the antitrust lawsuit to "check out the amazing new store!"

[DanielSB]

05:33 AM on 12/11/2011

It's a store. Whatever.

[DonMadrid1500]

04:43 AM on 12/11/2011

That rent is so cheap it's scandalous. $45 a square foot when the average retail rent in Manhattan is over $100 for odd areas and over $200 for major corridors. If you are on 5th Avenue it can go way over $1000 a square foot. I know that balcony has been a tough sell for the MTA but this is a give away.

[JohnTheMac]

01:16 PM on 12/12/2011

If you're renting the stores anywhere near an Apple store, you have to be loving the traffic.
In some locations, they could probably get the neighboring stores to chip in on Apple's rent!