Apple Opens Montreal Flagship Store

Back in July, Apple opened a flagship store in Montreal of which yours truly has already had an opportunity to be a customer. The store is ninth in the list of Apple's flagship stores world-wide (the others are in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, London, Tokyo, Osaka and New York) and the first of the kind in Canada.

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Personally, I am best familiar with Apple's New York SoHo branch on Prince Street. Its ostentatious cubic form aside, the Montreal store is in many ways similar. The lower floor is where all the Apple goodies (and most salespeople) are, while the upper level houses a genius bar, the software and the accessory section.

Compared to what I remember from New York, the software section is even more comprehensive. All major items, from Microsoft Office to Adobe to Apple's own programs are there. Canadians will appreciate several accounting software packages specifically targeted to the local market.

Now, my personal reason to visit the store was not so much to write up this report as to get a new computer. Sadly, my previous Mac had just expired. The salesperson who ended up helping me out (after briefly ignoring me, may I add) was reasonably nice. The whole process is super-efficient from the moment of the first staff interaction, since there's no need to line up at the cash register to pay. Each salesperson has a wireless card reader and is able to print the receipt almost literally "on the fly". Simultaneously, they send a message to the back office to bring out your new toys. You can literally be in and out (with your new purchase) in less than five minutes... provided that you can first flag down one of the salespeople.

All in all, this store is a win for everybody: local students, designers, Mac-heads, the city of Montreal, specifically St-Catherine Street and, of course, Apple. It's been a long time coming (I was fuming at the lack of Apple shopping options in Montreal all the way back in 2004), but I guess, better late than never.

Apple
1321 Rue Ste-Catherine Ouest
Montreal, QC, H3G 1P7 www.apple.com