Apple announced Saturday that it is permanently closing two of its renowned retail locations in the United States – the Infinite Loop store in Cupertino, California and the Royal Hawaiian store in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Infinite Loop Store Closes After 25 Years
The Infinite Loop store, situated at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, has been in operation since 1993. For over two decades, this small but busy retail store welcomed countless customers and tourists visiting Apple’s main campus.
However, with Apple’s brand-new state-of-the-art Apple Park campus now fully operating across the street, the tech giant has decided to officially shut the doors on its Infinite Loop store for good.
Key Timeline:
1993: Infinite Loop Apple store opens
2017: Apple Park campus construction completed
2023: Majority of Apple employees moved to Apple Park
Jan 20, 2024: Infinite Loop store closes permanently
The closure of the older store comes as no surprise, as foot traffic has declined significantly since employees started moving to the new Apple Park in 2017. The company kept the original store open over the past few years mainly for visitors wanting to shop near the main entrance of Infinite Loop.
But with most operations now running out of Apple Park, the small store apparently struggled to justify remaining active.
Apple executives marked the official last day by gathering retail employees and thanking them for their service over the past 25 years. Commemorative t-shirts were handed out and photos taken to honor the Infinite Loop store’s legacy as the first-ever Apple retail location.
Royal Hawaiian Store Shutters After 14 Years
On the same day as the Infinite Loop closure, Apple bid goodbye to another signature store at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The high-profile Royal Hawaiian store opened in 2008 as Apple’s first retail expansion into Hawaii. Sitting on the island of Oahu, this tourist-heavy location garnered significant visitor traffic over the past 14 years.
However, with six other Apple stores now spread across Hawaii, the company felt the Royal Hawaiian outpost had effectively served its purpose. Additionally, the upscale Ala Moana Center recently opened a brand-new two-story Apple store nearby to cater to local demand.
In a letter posted on the Royal Hawaiian store’s front windows, Apple’s senior vice president of retail thanked employees and customers while confirming the move to consolidate efforts around newer stores in more strategic locations.
What Closures Mean for Apple’s Retail Strategy
The simultaneous shutting of two landmark Apple stores, including the very first location, seems to signal a new era for the company’s retail footprint.
With almost 530 stores across 25 countries and an increasingly dominant online presence, Apple may be looking to rid itself of smaller, less-efficient stores that are no longer worth the effort.
| Year | # of Apple Stores Globally |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2005 | 100 |
| 2010 | 300 |
| 2015 | 465 |
| 2024 | 527 |
Furthermore, as Apple Park and other newer campuses centralize more activity going forward, associated retail outlets designed primarily for proximity to offices may see declining relevance.
The Infinite Loop store in particular had little significance for general consumers but held nostalgic value as a symbol of Apple’s history. With the rapid pace at which technology advances, Apple seems ready to let go of past relics to make way for what’s next.
Whether more store closures follow remains to be seen but would align with Apple’s cultural philosophy of never being afraid to move on and continually reinvent itself.
What’s Next For Apple Retail
While Apple says goodbye to two stores, rumors indicate the company plans to open dozens more in the near future with a focus on international expansion.
Recent job listings reveal Apple is currently hiring retail heads and store managers to help launch stores across India and other Asian markets. The company sees tremendous room for growth outside the U.S. and seems primed to rapidly scale up its global retail presence.
Domestically, Apple is also experimenting with new store formats to evolve its customer experience. Its revamped Fifth Ave location in New York City reopened last year as more of a cultural hub, complete with a performance space and public terrace.
Additionally, micro-stores focused only on supporting online orders suggest Apple is trying to optimize retail operations to balance both in-person and web traffic.
So as much as the twin store closures represent the end of an era, Apple retail continues to position itself on the cutting edge – severing ties to the past while trailblazing enhanced ways to interact with customers in an increasingly mobile-first world.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
