Update: The Apple Store in Conestoga Mall is now open. Have you been? Let us know how it is in the comments!
Apple Store at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo Opens
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Ron Charles from CBC’s The National about the new Apple Store opening up in Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall, and why Apple was coming to a “non major urban centre.”
Apple Store soon to be joined by Target, others
As I told Ron, major retailers are tripping over each other trying to get to Waterloo – Target, Apple, Coach, Paderno, Spring Rolls, Oliver & Bonacini, Lee Valley, Sephora have all opened recently or are coming soon – because Waterloo Region has a great demographic – we skew younger, more educated, have more disposable income and are generally more tech savvy than many other regions in Canada. And the 70,000 students at WLU, UW and Conestoga College don’t hurt either !
To get a sense of how hot the Kitchener Waterloo commercial real estate market is for retailers, just drive down Ira Needles Blvd and take a look at The Boardwalk, 1 million square feet of premium retail space – and there are new retail developments on either side of it too.
Waterloo Region is now also one of the top 10 largest urban centers in Canada, and with the announcement of the Apple store coming to Burlington, Apple will have an official store in each centre.
Source: Ehmac.ca
I do not think they are opening a store here in response to RIM at all – I think that is a sensational perspective that some people are trying to see, but I don’t think it’s reflected in the reality.
The CBC clip also features Avvey Peters from Communitech discussing the health & vitality of Waterloo Region’s hi-tech sector, which is expanding every day.
And for the record, I’m a BlackBerry guy.
(All Apple Store photos are from ehmac.ca)
@benjaminbach I would have but its just another Apple store, I like the products but I’ve been to the ones in Toronto, whats the dif?
@Mattylantz Same as any other Apple Store – I’m happy it opened because it will raise the $/sq ft sales at other mall retailers. #CRE
@benjaminbach indeed, should give them all a boost, plus it in the end it will save me some gas.
@mattylantz yup – we can still check out @Carbonation – @MattScobel can help you with all approved Apple products – better service too!
@benjaminbach @Carbonation @MattScobel I’ve bought two Mac’s from them before, great service fixed my MacBook Pro too!
@benjaminbach excellent post. I went and saw that there were about 50 employees and 5 security apes. Didn’t go in. Some other time.
@terrechartrand haha – not a great ratio unless they had a ton of ppl (and I saw an earlier tweet from you saying they didn’t!).
@benjaminbach not at all when I was there. Extraordinary empty when one got past the blue shirts.
@benjaminbach I imagine capacity at 75 to 100. No wonder there were line ups. Still know they will do well. WR has capacity.
@terrechartrand yup, ppl here love gadgets
@benjaminbach oh heck yeah. Toys = fun.
@Mattylantz thanks for the feedback. Glad you’ve had a good experience. cc / @benjaminbach @Carbonation
@MattScobel Matt I’d love for you to chime in on my blog about how busy @Carbonation was – shows strength of downtown retail market!
@janemitchell IKEA needs a primary trade population of at least 1 million.
@michael_witmer Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford & London = over 1 million. Put it near the 401, it would work! #CRE