History of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store - Summary

Summary

Here is a concise summary of the text:

**The Story of the Iconic Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, NYC**

* **Conception**: Steve Jobs met with real estate developer Harry Macklowe in 2004 to discuss building Apple's flagship store on the plaza of the General Motors building.
* **Design**: Jobs envisioned a glass cube, which Macklowe loved, but initially thought was too large (40ft). A mockup led to scaling down to 32ft.
* **Launch**: The store opened on May 19, 2006, featuring a glass cube with an illuminated Apple logo and a glass staircase.
* **Success**: Attracted 18.2 million visitors in the first year, generating $1 million in daily revenue.
* **Renovations**:
1. 2011: Rebuilt glass cube with fewer panes.
2. 2017 (2-year project): Transformed the store with more natural light, futuristic portholes, chrome accents, greenery, and a larger space (twice as big with higher ceilings).

**Today**: The Fifth Avenue Apple Store remains one of the company's most impressive and popular locations, attracting visitors from around the world.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text, each with a number and in short sentences:

1. **Location**: The Apple Store in question is located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, near Central Park.
2. **Store Design**: The store features a glass cube design, initially conceived by Steve Jobs.
3. **Meeting with Developer**: Jobs met with Harry Macklowe, a NYC real estate developer, to discuss the store's location.
4. **Property**: The store is situated in front of the General Motors (GM) building, which Macklowe purchased for $1.4 billion.
5. **Plaza Issues**: The plaza had design and usage issues, being too large for a simple plaza but too small for another skyscraper.
6. **Unused Basement**: The plaza had an unused basement due to its sunken and later raised design.
7. **Initial Design Issue**: Jobs' initial design for a 40-foot glass cube was deemed too large, potentially obscuring the GM building.
8. **Scaled-Down Design**: The cube's size was reduced; the final size is 32 feet (revealed in fact #24).
9. **Steve Jobs' Involvement**: Jobs was heavily involved in the store's development, including choosing stone for the plaza.
10. **Mockup in Cupertino**: Jobs built a mockup of the store in Apple's headquarters' parking lot.
11. **Friendship with Macklowe**: Jobs developed a friendship with Macklowe, who offered him an office in the GM building (which Jobs declined).
12. **Store Opening**: The Fifth Avenue Apple Store opened on May 19, 2006.
13. **Store Features (2006)**: The initial store featured an illuminated Apple logo and a glass staircase around a cylindrical glass elevator.
14. **Design Concept**: The glass cube was designed to let in light and ambiance, making the underground space feel like a public area.
15. **Apple's Retail Experience**: At the time of the store's opening, Apple had only been in retail for five years and hadn't opened a flagship store.
16. **Performance Expectations**: Neither Apple nor Macklowe had a frame of reference for predicting the store's success.
17. **First-Year Visitors**: The store attracted 50,000 visitors a day, totaling 18.2 million people in its first year.
18. **Revenue**: The store generated an average of $1 million per day after paying rent and a percentage of profits to Macklowe.
19. **Social Impact**: The store's transformation drove higher foot traffic, made the GM building more appealing, and attracted luxury stores.
20. **First Renovation (2011)**: Apple spent $6.6 million to rebuild the glass cube using 15 panes of glass instead of 90.
21. **Second Renovation (2017)**: Apple opened a temporary location during renovations, which took over two years to complete.
22. **Temporary Location**: The temporary store was possible due to the timely vacancy of the FAO Schwarz toy store in the GM building.
23. **Completion and Launch**: The renovated store opened after more than two years, with Tim Cook and Deirdre O’Brian in attendance.
24. **Final Glass Cube Size**: The glass cube's final size is 32 feet.
25. **Remodeled Store Features**:
* Portholes for more natural light with integrated LED lighting.
* Chrome stairs and elevator (replacing glass).
* Increased greenery, including trees and walls of greenery for seating and device charging.
* A HomePod room for stereo sound experience.
* A photo-lined hallway showcasing the store's transformation.