October 8, 2007
Apple Store to Replace Georgetown French Connection
We had heard rumors that Apple had settled on purchasing 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW in Georgetown, but the Washington Business Journal confirmed the news on Friday. The building, sold on Sept. 27 to Apple Inc., is currently occupied by French Connection. The manager at French Connection had still not been told about the deal as of the middle of last week.
Initial rumors of a Georgetown Apple store had been focused on the space where Nathan's restaurant operates at Wisconsin and M Streets. Nathan's owner Carol Joynt refuted those rumors, and has since posted on her blog that it's her understanding that the top contender to take over the Nathan's space is currently T-mobile, though no deal has been finalized.
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Yay! This makes my day. Thank you DCist for scooping this.
Ditto to that YAY. About time that Gtown got an apple store.
The news that something like T-Mobile might be moving into that great space on the corner is much more alarming than the news that Georgetown will be getting an Apple store is exciting.
Yeah, T-Mobile stores are like the Checks Cashed stores of upscale neighborhoods. Most people don't need them and don't want them around, and the people that do use them probably would be better off not going there anyway.
Besides, I'm kind of surprised that T-Mobile would want that space. My impression is that the landlord wants to rent out the whole building to a store. T-Mobile doesn't need the second floor, whereas a clothing store would be willing to pay for that.
But basically I just really hate T-Mobile stores. They add nothing to a retail mix. They're worse than banks.
The rents in G'town are so high that I find it highly highly unlikely that T-Mobile (unless they launch a new concept store) will take Nathan's spot -- the reality is that there are plenty of sexy int'l chains that will fight for that kind of corner presence (particularly given the weak dollar) and pay well more than 150+/ft for a spot like that. The good news is that banks aren't expanding with the mad frenzy that they were as recently as a year ago (they would have paid the top $$$). I personally hope that Nathan's (or some other restaurant) figures out a way to stay there. Who knows, maybe the French Connection will end up there.
Actually Yays & Nays at the Examiner scooped Apple in DC on Oct 1. But I'm happy DCist finally picked up on it!
DCist picked up on it before this...
Macs are taking over . . . muAHAhahaha!!!
Now if we could just get a freakin Campers store we might actually have a real hip city.
That will be one big Apple store if they do move there. Reminds me of their London Regent Street location.
You are in luck Guest #9 -- DC is on the Campers website now, I am assuming that means that they have a shop in the works here. I am willing to wager big bucks that they are headed to G'town. Though perhaps they will go to Dupont and put one those damn Comfort One locations out of business!
Now how about a downtown store for those of us who don’t want to travel all the way out to Georgetown?
I agree with [12]. Why do they have to put it in such a shitty, inaccessible location? Someplace downtown would have been much better.
VifL, I'm betting it's because they think the demographic of the folks who shop in Gtown is closer to their buying audience than the folks who shop downtown. Cuz you know, if you can't afford a car, you can't afford their products (kidding).
Remember hipsters...
Owning an Ipod = cool.
Buying an Ipod at an Apple Store = uncool.
Everett, you're absolutely right. The cachet of a Georgetown address is probably more important to them than a location that is capable of generating greater sales.
Who gives a FCUK?