The State of Downtown Retail

[Chickenwing]

I wonder what the time frame for the store would be. I read that Apple has submitted plans for their store in Charleston recently as well.

The prospect of switching to Vista doesn't thrill me, and I have been investigating the Macs recently. Maybe I could be swayed.

[Galley]

I wonder what the time frame for the store would be. I read that Apple has submitted plans for their store in Charleston recently as well.

The prospect of switching to Vista doesn't thrill me, and I have been investigating the Macs recently. Maybe I could be swayed.

Patrick and I are both Macheads. We'd be happy to convince you to make the switch.

Anyway, Apple will soon have a retail presence in the Upstate.

[goodbye]

I have heard many negative comments from Vista users. Some have told me they will be switching back to XP, while a couple have said they are now looking at Mac.

[gvilledh]

I'm glad to be reading this. I have a good friend who was recently told that Greenville had dropped the ball and taken too long to move on this and had lost their chance for an Apple store completely. With everything being delayed at Magnolia, it makes sense to me. I argued somewhat and told him it was just delayed, but he said it had been tabled and would most likely be awhile before Apple would revisit our area as a potential store site.

I'm hoping that with this potential threat, Greenville got on the ball and quickly found a place that Apple would be happy with and could get into in a hurry. Anyone who has been in an Apple store and witnessed the number of people there at all hours of the day knows a city would be crazy to let the chance for an Apple store get away from them.

[vicupstate]

I certainly hope this is true, but it sounds TOO good to be true. Didn't someone post something they knew wasn't true before?

If this is true, This would be the perfect tenant for the just-approved (by DPC) project in the West End. That would be a far superior site to an interior Riverplace site.

[Greenville]

I certainly hope this is true, but it sounds TOO good to be true. Didn't someone post something they knew wasn't true before?

If this is true, This would be the perfect tenant for the just-approved (by DPC) project in the West End. That would be a far superior site to an interior Riverplace site.

Now that would be a great site! Very prominent location in the West End! I think I would actually prefer this to the interior RiverPlace location (although I will gladly take an Apple store anywhere).

[GvilleSC]

I sure hope that it's true that Apple will be coming to the West End. I want to get a new laptop, but I'd like to wait until they open their store so I can help make their investment worth it, if that makes sense. And I'm not planning on getting it in the immediate future, but the sooner they open a store (the West End would be sooner), then the sooner I can purchase one

Edited April 19, 2008 by GvilleSC

[swu_BA_student]

Best Buy is getting an Apple store in the next week or two.

[gvegascple]

I'm glad to be reading this. I have a good friend who was recently told that Greenville had dropped the ball and taken too long to move on this and had lost their chance for an Apple store completely. With everything being delayed at Magnolia, it makes sense to me. I argued somewhat and told him it was just delayed, but he said it had been tabled and would most likely be awhile before Apple would revisit our area as a potential store site.

I'm hoping that with this potential threat, Greenville got on the ball and quickly found a place that Apple would be happy with and could get into in a hurry. Anyone who has been in an Apple store and witnessed the number of people there at all hours of the day knows a city would be crazy to let the chance for an Apple store get away from them.

I would much rather see the apple store go in under the green monster personally. That would really blow away tourists in the west end too. We are long overdue for an apple store in my opinion now that compUSA is gone. From what I recall, Greenville had some strong Apple sales numbers and those must be dropping without any brick and mortar support. Apple must be getting as annoyed as the rest of us are waiting for these magnolia park and west end projects to get off the ground. They can always move into a small shop that is available and then relocate later when the economy allows for construction. I just want my apple store!

[goodbye]

I'm glad to be reading this. I have a good friend who was recently told that Greenville had dropped the ball and taken too long to move on this and had lost their chance for an Apple store completely. With everything being delayed at Magnolia, it makes sense to me. I argued somewhat and told him it was just delayed, but he said it had been tabled and would most likely be awhile before Apple would revisit our area as a potential store site.

I'm hoping that with this potential threat, Greenville got on the ball and quickly found a place that Apple would be happy with and could get into in a hurry. Anyone who has been in an Apple store and witnessed the number of people there at all hours of the day knows a city would be crazy to let the chance for an Apple store get away from them.

Your good friend spoke indecisively, it seems. First he claimed that Greenville "had lost their chance for an Apple store completely," but then he says it will "be awhile before Apple would revisit our area as a potential store site."

The first quote doesn't make sense for a retail business. If the demographics meet their criteria, they will find a place to put their store here, whether soon or much later. They wouldn't base their denial completely on one project's economy related delay. I find it interesting that Greenville is burdened with the responsibility to find a location for Apple when it is a retail company that should be seriously looking for itself. I understand it is helpful when cities offer potential sites on a platter, but why should they neglect any responsibility in searching for a potential store location?

[gvilledh]

I think he was talking about the store they had planned to open along with the Charleston store (and originally, even before the Charleston store). I think the way you do-if the demographics are right, then the space for the store should be able to be found. Even if it takes a little while longer, the people around here aren't going to lose interest and stop using Apple products. To get the best coverage for the state, if only two stores are going to be opened at first, Greenville and Charleston make a lot of sense.

[JerryMac]

I'm new here @ UrbanPlanet but I've been reading this site for quite some time --- I have it on good authority from a couple of the sales people at the Greenville Best Buy that Apple is putting in an Apple shop inside the Gville BB in May.. I've been to one of these BB Apple shops - it is just like walking into an Apple retail store - they are staffed by an Apple employee (just like they had at CompUSA) and Apple trained BB Apple specialists... they have full stock of all Apple notebooks & desktops & lots of accessories, etc... I can't wait, we've been without an Apple store for too long.... keep watching the local BB - they should be making some kind of formal announcement soon - I hope!!!! Welcome back to Greenville Apple !!!!!!!

[swu_BA_student]

I'm new here @ UrbanPlanet but I've been reading this site for quite some time --- I have it on good authority from a couple of the sales people at the Greenville Best Buy that Apple is putting in an Apple shop inside the Gville BB in May.. I've been to one of these BB Apple shops - it is just like walking into an Apple retail store - they are staffed by an Apple employee (just like they had at CompUSA) and Apple trained BB Apple specialists... they have full stock of all Apple notebooks & desktops & lots of accessories, etc... I can't wait, we've been without an Apple store for too long.... keep watching the local BB - they should be making some kind of formal announcement soon - I hope!!!! Welcome back to Greenville Apple !!!!!!!

It's coming in the next few weeks. A lot depends on the availibilty of the Best Buy reset teams, but yes we do have one coming.

[Greenville]

The Apple "store" inside Best Buy is separate from the freestanding Apple store we're going to be getting, though.

[Chickenwing]

Patrick and I are both Macheads. We'd be happy to convince you to make the switch.

Anyway, Apple will soon have a retail presence in the Upstate.

I will probably be updating our small office network (SBS, plus 5 additional computers) sometime late this year/early next year. The prospect of switching to Apple intrigues me, as it may be more cost effective than the MS equivalent. I think that the hardest thing to give up would be Outlook. I could do it no problem, but it would be everyone else that matters.

[linkerjpatrick]

I will probably be updating our small office network (SBS, plus 5 additional computers) sometime late this year/early next year. The prospect of switching to Apple intrigues me, as it may be more cost effective than the MS equivalent. I think that the hardest thing to give up would be Outlook. I could do it no problem, but it would be everyone else that matters.

I guess you can call me a Machead. It is my prefered computing environment. I actually wanted a Mac as far back as 1988 when they were used in my journalism classes in colleges but unfortunately I could not afford one on my college budget at the time and did not get my own computer till around 1996. I shopped for one back them but because of the state of Apple before they brought Steve Jobs back I placed myself in a self-imposed PC exile. I don't regret it. I learned a lot from various version of Windows to PC hardware repair and upgrades. Around 2000 however and the introduction of OSX I started making a serious commitment and exploration of switching to "Macs." I still have to use Windows however but I run it virtually under VMWare Fusion because I support some Windows users to a limited degree and have to use Internet Explorer, MS Publisher and other Windows only software when receiving files or designing web sites from clients. Thankfully since Macs now run on Intel chips you can run Windows and Windows programs easier. We've tried Crossover Mac for running Windows programs without having to have Windows but it can be a bit wonky.

The trick with Outlook is knowing if you are just used to using it or if you have to use it in your work environment. We are pretty much a business that uses Mac computers but most of our computers also run Windows. For the most part I just use the Apple Mail program, iCal and Address book that comes with OSX be default.

The Mac version of MS Office does have an e-mail program called Entourage but's it's not exactly an Outlook replacement.

[gs3]

Looks like the last retail space in the bottom floor of The Bookends has been upfitted for a retail store. The interior looks great. Walking by tonight I noticed they had started to merchandise the store. Some good contemporary crystal brands (Orrefors and Kosta Boda). No sign announcing what the store name will be. Anyone know?

[GvilleSC]

Great news, gsupstate! I hope their location serves them well. It'd be great if the developer of the Bookends phase II would find a feasible way to built it. I'm still not convinced that shorter is better, but we'll see down the road (hopefully) what they come up with.

[gs3]

Looks like the last retail space in the bottom floor of The Bookends has been upfitted for a retail store. The interior looks great. Walking by tonight I noticed they had started to merchandise the store. Some good contemporary crystal brands (Orrefors and Kosta Boda). No sign announcing what the store name will be. Anyone know?

So I'll quote myself and ask again. Anyone know what this new store will be?

[swu_BA_student]

So I'll quote myself and ask again. Anyone know what this new store will be?

I sold a music system to the owner. It is going to be in her words "a high end gift store." I can't remember the name though.

[BookEnder]

Looks like the last retail space in the bottom floor of The Bookends has been upfitted for a retail store. The interior looks great. Walking by tonight I noticed they had started to merchandise the store. Some good contemporary crystal brands (Orrefors and Kosta Boda). No sign announcing what the store name will be. Anyone know?

It's "The Perfect Gift" - a high end gift shop (as I understand it).

Grand Opening Celebration Thursday, May 8 (4 - 8 p.m.); Friday, May 9 (5 - 9 p.m.); and Saturday, May 10 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Looks like Thursday and Friday may be invitation only (we received RSVP invitations for those nights). Donations from the proceeds of sales (10%) will go to various charities: Thursday - Special Olympics Greenville; Friday - Greenville Humane Society; and Saturday - The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

[gs3]

Thanks guys! Sounds like a good place. From looking in the window, the shopfittings and interior looked very nice.

[gs3]

Noticed this morning that the wooden scaffolding has been removed from the front of the building where Healthy Lounge will go. The building facade redo looks nice. Nothing unique......just simple, clean, brick. Very nice. Also looks like interior work on the lounge is progressing well.

[goodbye]

I listened to the March 31 podcast from GSABusiness.com the other day and found myself totally agreeing with the host regarding our downtown retail shops closing up way too early every evening. We still have a very vibrant downtown later into the night, but no place to shop after 8:00pm. As more attention is drawn to downtown being a major economic hub, this needs to be addressed by the City immediately, in my opinion. What do you all think?

[GvilleSC]

I'm in full agreement, Skyliner! The City should discuss this with our biggest retailer, Mast. I'm always finding myself trying to go there when they're closed. It'd give people more things to do in the evenings and keep people walking around and enjoying themselves for a longer period of time.

---

Where is Healthy Lounge? Is this the place next to the Cigar store on South Main?

Also, whatever happened to the second Jazz club? Is it open or still in the works, or dead?