Apple has a new home at Canada's second-largest indoor shopping mall. Following months of construction, the new Apple Square One retail store opened its doors today in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto. The store is now located above the Food Central food court on the second floor of the mall, across from Sephora.
The new Apple Square One via KyleThe store's first visitors were greeted with a round of applause from Apple's team members. MacRumors reader Kyle attended the grand opening and shared photos with us, providing a first look at the curved glass facade and expansive interior.
On the positive side, the new store is much larger than Apple's previous location in the mall, which was often overcrowded. The original store closed its doors for good on Thursday evening, after nearly 15 years of serving customers. Another plus is that the store is the first in Canada to offer a dedicated Apple Pickup station where customers can conveniently collect their online orders placed on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app.
Apple Pickup in the new Apple Square One via KyleOn the negative side, the store lacks some of Apple's latest retail design elements that were first introduced last year at the relocated Apple Tysons Corner in Virginia and all-new Apple Battersea in London, England, such as a Genius Bar with varied table and seating heights for improved accessibility, and an Apple Watch Studio for mixing and matching case and band combinations. Customers can still receive hardware support from a Genius at the store, and participate in free creative sessions through the Today at Apple program.
The new Apple Square One is the company's fourth modern store in Canada, alongside Apple Fairview and Apple Eaton Centre in Toronto, and Apple Pacific Centre in Vancouver. All of Apple's other stores in Canada have a classic design. A leaked document last year revealed that Apple has considered relocating its Sainte-Catherine store in Montréal, Québec as early as 2025, but the company has not publicly confirmed these plans.
"Come say hello," says Apple, on the Apple Square One page. "We can't wait to see you there."
Top Rated Comments
I check in by the front entrance then they proceed to tell me to stand by the third table on the left. I get there and I’m just waiting around thinking, “Okay, I’ve checked in by the front entrance, so someone will bring my equipment.” Well, not so much. I had to check in again with the person by the third table on the left. It was so freaking confusing.
A simple pickup took far too long because it wasn’t clear what to do. A person shouldn’t have to ask questions about a pickup.
of people would probably be too intimidated to even step inside.
I think the stores look great. They're open and airy, easy to navigate. Apple's just a victim of their success - the stores can get overcrowded. But that's not their fault necessarily.
I think what would be great is to have interactive displays about the technology (manufacturing, hardware and software) Apple uses. They have a huge backstory... why not show it off. They build amazing devices... why not show it off... instead of just dumping it on a table with a "price" app loaded on it.
In some stores the demonstration screens are open to the whole store... why not have a mini cinema type room...
I bet a consultancy firm has been paid a huge amount... and look at it lol mediocre!
There is an anti-human streak that runs through much of contemporary architecture.