A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…., Ok it was 2010 (in California ?) when Gary Allen of ifoapplestore.com ( @ifostore ) first heard rumours of an Apple Store proposed for Edinburgh.
Moving on to last year, at the time of the lead up to the opening of the Braehead (Glasgow/Renfrewshire, Scotland ) Apple Store, I posted on here my view that I thought Edinburgh was a poor fit for Apple and that Princes St was nothing but a tourist trap.
As much as I still believe that parts of Edinburgh are still swamped with tourist shops full of tartan tat, I have seen a different side to the city over the past year or so.
I was recently at the Edinburgh festival to see a friend of my wife’s performance at the Assembly venue at the University. Just before leaving I saw the site of the proposed store, the insides ripped out of the building and only the outer shell showing (ifoapplestore.com have a good image of it ). It struck me that this is what happened when Apple created Scotland’s first Apple Store at Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
Now a smart, modern Apple Store could look out of place against the other stores in the street but when you see the recently covered steps out of Waverley Station, that lead almost straight up to the proposed site and the recent matching glass and metal walkways that bring the historic train station bang up to date and yet strangely mirroring the design of many Apple Stores, there appears to be some form of synergy.
Until recently I had also not realised that just down the road, round the corner and down the hill from the proposed site is the fairly recent Omni Centre. This glass fronted building plays host to a cinema, several bars and restaurant and a Virgin fitness centre and is the type of modern building that fits with my perception of the type of place Apple would be happy being located near.
So I admit it, I was wrong. An Apple store would look Awesome in Edinburgh and I hope it’s not too long before the poor old empty shell of a building is brought back into life with a shiny new Apple Store at it’s heart. I know I’ll be standing in line when it opens, tweeting as I wait patiently drinking my Starbucks hot chocolate (assuming that their staff are as accommodating as they were at Buchanan St & Braehead Apple
Store openings – thanks guys).
Check out all the rumours that IFOAppleStore.com have on proposed future Apple Store (including Edinburgh). Thanks Gary !!
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