Apple Computer (Cupertino, Calif.) opened its first New York City retail location this morning. Just 14 months after the computer company started its retail operation, it has a chain of 31 stores in 17 states.
The New York store, in the SoHo district, will be Apple's largest to date, and will include: two 20-foot Genius Bars; expanded “solution centers” for music, photography and movies (at which visitors can create slide shows of digital photos, make a digital music library, edit a video, burn a custom DVD and play video games; an expanded kids section with 14 computer stations connected to the Internet; a software section with more than 900 software titles for the Mac; and a 46-seat theater, where customers can watch demonstrations of Apple's latest innovations, take classes and attend “Made on a Mac” events.
“Fourteen months after opening our first retail store, our 31 stores are attracting over 100,000 visitors each week,” said Apple ceo Steve Jobs.