New Apple Store On Michigan Avenue Will Be A Chic Glass Box

By Margaret Paulson in News on Aug 13, 2015 9:20PM

Photo via Joseph Palmer Flickr

Apple, Inc. is gearing up to move its flagship Michigan Avenue store from the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Huron Street to a prime riverside location adjacent to Tribune Tower at 401 N. Michigan Ave.

The new location, which will be just half a mile away from the old, will likely have a super chic glass structure similar to that of the flagship Fifth Avenue Apple store in New York City. The structure will lead into a mostly underground store, technically located in the basement of the 35-story building, though there’s no way it will feel like a basement.

Crain’s originally reported in August 2014 that Apple, Inc. was looking to move its store and was checking out other locations in the area, including the former Saks store at 717 N. Michigan Ave. and the Top Shop location north of that.

John Rutledge, CEO of Oxford Capital Group, which is developing a boutique hotel just across the river, told Crain’s the new store location is “transformational” for Mag Mile businesses. A nearby Apple Store might add 15 percent to other retail outlets’ bottom lines.

There’s no word yet on when the new store will open.