Apple stores to close at 2PM on Fri. for iPhone

Apple’s new iPhone goes on sale at 6:00 PM on Friday, June 29th, and if you were hoping to mill around your friendly neighborhood Apple retail store, you’ll be in for a surprise. Apple notes that its retail store locations will be closed from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM in anticipation of the iPhone’s release.

Apple’s retail store Web pages now sport a sidebar that says “The wait is almost over. The store will be closed Friday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. iPhone sales begin at 6:00 pm.”

This even goes for Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, which is otherwise open 24 hours a day. That location already has people camping out in anticipation of buying an iPhone when it’s available.