Sunday, September 23, 2007

Location, Location, Location

For those who don't already know, the new Apple Store will be located at:

1321 Sainte-Catherine West
It's on the North side of the street right between Crescent and De la Montagne.



Unlike previous reports from Montreal media, Apple did not purchase the building outright - they are only leasing it from Toronto-based Pyxis Real Estate Equities.

Not sure what the terms are like, but I would imagine that it's at least a 10 or 15 year lease in the space. MENS' lease ends at the end of the year and that's when Apple moves in and begins construction.

Expected opening November 2008

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Flagship Apple Store in Montreal



Yes, the rumors are true. Apple is opening a flagship store in downtown Montreal.

Even though front-page stories ran in the Montreal Gazette, Journal de Montreal and La Presse, Apple still has not officially announced that the store will be opening. Well, they might as well have. See, the space that Apple will be moving into is currently occupied by a store called MENS. When MENS found out that Apple was "kicking" them out - they weren't happy. So, instead of moving to their new location without saying a word of who was moving in (which was requested by Apple real estate) the staff at MENS told every customer that walked through the door who the new occupant was going to be.

Even though the store is scheduled to open in over a year from now (November 2008), there are many rumors flying around about the building, it's construction, issues with the city of Montreal and of course the usual Apple super-secrecy.

So why read THIS blog? A few reasons:

1. I work a block from the new store location and walk by it every day
2. I'm a die-hard Apple fan and I've got my ear to the ground. I've watched Apple flagships open from afar ever since they have been in existence.
3. I know a true Apple insider (not just some blogger who likes Apple, but a real insider at Apple in Canada)

The whole point of this blog is to watch and document the progress of the store as its built from day 1. You just know there is going to be some interesting things going on!

Stay tuned.