Apple store launch a success

People jammed the halls from early morning until well after the other stores closed to get a glimpse of the first Apple stores. MacCentral had coverage from the McLean and Glendale locations, including comments from people at the event. We also have four photo galleries from McLean and seven photo galleries — in two stories ( 1, 2 ) — from Glendale.

MacCentral readers are still sending in their thoughts about the Apple store openings — everyone we heard from this weekend gave Apple and the staff at the store glowing praise.

Mark Schilling, who showed up at the Tysons corner location at 10:00 am, reiterated what many people told us on Saturday — “the line was already out the entrance of the mall into the parking lot.”

Mark and his wife, with two young children, couldn’t wait in line, so they came back at noon. “No change in the numbers still waiting. We returned at 4pm, and there was still a line of over 100 people waiting!”

Pictures courtesy Lawrence Singleton

The big question people were asking was, were people actually buying product? MacCentral reader Lawrence Singleton said he talked to an Apple employee, who said they had a great Saturday.

“I asked if people were buying or just looking and was told that there was a lot of buying. The real excitement was that it is not only current Apple users who are buying, but Windows users were also buying a lot yesterday.”

Singleton wrapped up his thoughts of his first Apple store experience by comparing to it to something we have all encountered as Apple users.

“I’ll have to admit I was impressed. The store is very elegant and displays products very well. Everyone I spoke with was very nice, friendly, eager to help, and knowledgeable. It is the exact opposite of what I have experienced at any other retailer.”