here it is!!
Apple readies King St. store
Company's first South Carolina retail outlet creates buzz
By
John P. McDermott (
Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Apple A rendering of the new Apple retail store on King St.
King Street merchant Chip Ervin watched this week as Apple Inc. began fine-tuning its first South Carolina retail location to make its much-anticipated debut this Saturday morning.
He said the bustling scene outside the technology product maker's store at 301 King St. on Monday included about 30 college-aged workers carefully handling boxes of Apple merchandise from a FedEx delivery truck.
"They had a line of human beings filtering stuff into the building for a couple of hours," said Ervin, whose Grady & Ervin Co. men's clothing shop is just up the street at 313 King.
Apple said Tuesday that it expects a large crowd by the time it throws open the doors to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday. Indeed, long lines have formed hours in advance of other new store openings.
Ervin said the "street is excited."
"I think it's going to be a big show," he said.
Though Apple sells its products through retailers all over the Charleston region, its flagship shops are magnets to Mac fans and iPod aficionados. The stores offer technology support, warranty work, free workshops, children's programs and "genius bars" that offer one-on-one product advice.
They are also the first retail outlets to offer the company's most sought-after new products.
Sales have been strong: The average Apple retail outlet last year racked up $22.9 million in sales, up nearly 2 percent from the comparable figure for 2006, according to the company's 2007 annual report.
Previously, Apple buffs had to travel to Charlotte to visit the nearest store. The Charleston location will be the Cupertino, Calif.-based company's
222nd retail site worldwide.
Ervin said he and other nearby merchants welcome their new high-profile neighbor. "I think it's going to be a very big attention-getter ... and good for King Street in general," he said. "It's a big deal for us."
While Apple executives were unavailable Tuesday to comment on the decision to expand to Charleston, Ervin said the company was likely drawn by the large mix of college students and working professionals.
Apple itself has been tight-lipped about the King Street store, the front of which had been covered for months with dark plywood to keep out prying eyes. Ervin, who recently toured the building, said the renovation of the former home of Cumberland's and Grannie's Goodies was extensive.
"There's cabling and high-tech wiring and lots of glass and stainless steel," he said. "It's more contemporary than other downtown store interiors and storefronts, but visually it's going to say Apple when you look at it."
Apple said the hours for the downtown store will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
