Apple’s next move in the Big Apple? Grand Central.
The tech giant is planning to build its biggest Apple Store in New York’s bustling Grand Central Terminal, according to a report by the Cult of Mac website.
The store would open early this fall, according to the report — and would be Apple’s largest retail space in the world.
Apple — which already operates more than 300 retail stores worldwide, including four in Manhattan — has been quietly eyeing the New York landmark and train transportation hub for some time. It’s a great retail location, with more than 700,000 visitors a day — and during rush hour, thousands of business types from Connecticut and Westchester County still clinging to BlackBerrys.
As the New York Observer noted earlier this month, to break ground on a Grand Central store, Apple was facing a complex approval process that involves the Metro Transit Authority, which oversees GCT.
But it’s not as tricky as you might think. Grand Central has over 100 retail locations, "spread across three levels and 130,000 square feet.” There’s even a Brooklyn Industries.
The tricky part might be finding space to make it the world’s largest Apple Store.
As Cult of Mac notes, the Apple Store in Covent Garden, London — with 40,000 square feet — is currently Apple’s largest retail location. And the largest retail store in Grand Central currently is Rite Aid, at 10,000 square feet.
My guess: Apple has the cash to convince the MTA to let it create its own space within Grand Central.
At any rate, get ready to see more iPads at the Oyster Bar soon.
[Photo illustration by TheWrap]
