Apple Inc. will reopen its store in Boise, a major anchor of Boise Towne Square.
The store, which for a time was the only Apple retail location open in the United States, shut its doors for a second time in July. It remained shuttered for nearly three months.
Now, the company said it will again open the location, starting Wednesday, September 23rd. However, the store will not let customers into browse products. Instead, the store will act primarily as a product pick-up location, as well as offering appointments with the company’s “Genius” technical support team, or advising sessions from a retail specialist.
[Analysis: Boise’s mall area a significant local economic engine, tied to big national retailers]
The Boise store follows a new “Express” temporary store format the company rolled out earlier this month in California. That concept keeps the retail portion of the store closed off, with customers able to pick up their items from a new window along the front of the location. Guests can come inside for support sessions.
Apple opened the store in Boise when the number of COVID cases initially saw significant drops in May and the state began a phased reopening plan. It closed in July when cases – and deaths – again began to spike in the area. The number of COVID-19 cases has plateaued in recent weeks.
Pretty great experience w/ new @Apple store setup in Burlingame. Folks there said it’s 1st Apple Store in the world to test “express” approach pic.twitter.com/PvW3uxyHhT
— Marci Harris (@marcidale) September 14, 2020
