After several months of renovations, one of the original Apple Stores, Tice’s Corner, has officially reopened. The doors opened sharply at 10am after a brief countdown.

This Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey store features the first Apple AirTag display. It will act as a prototype for other stores.

There was no free SWAG at this reopening.

Other highlights:

1. Ceilings are covered in fabric to reduce noise.
2. iPhone case drawers resemble bank vault drawers. They were first featured at Apple Upper East Side (because it used to be a bank).
3. Arcade display is interactive. Touch each app screen to see a demo and scan a QR code to download the app.
4. Tables in the far back are used for presentations. The tables actually exude sound from the center so you can always hear the person presenting.
5. There are two tables for genius bar appointments. The tables use heat recognition to open the outlet panel. Swipe your hand next to the panel to open and close (see video).
6. Front doors are now automatic.
7. There is a pickup area on the back wall.

Today, the Apple Store at the American Dream mall had its grand opening. American Dream, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is the second largest mall in the United States.

The store was scheduled to open at 11am, but they opened a few minutes early. Apple always gives a free gift to attendees (shirts, books, posters). This time, it was a tote bag with the Apple logo. It didn’t have the location which is unusual. Seemed rather generic.

There were 100 people in line when it opened. The line grew as more and more mall-goers noticed the line.

Many employees from other Apple locations cut the line. I’ve seen this a lot in New York City. One guy will be in line, then his coworkers show up and join him. The entitled people behind me were from the Willowbrook Mall location.

I got introduced to Craig, Apple’s “Market Leader.” He’s been at Apple ten years and has been part of all the Apple Store openings in the area.

An American Dream Apple Store employee told me this is the only new Apple Store in the US this year.

Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad (and more) fame were at Stew Leonard’s in Paramus, New Jersey today to promote their Mezcal, Dos Hombres. Stew Leonard’s started taking Dos Hombres pre-orders a few weeks back and quickly sold out. There were over 200 people in the queue to get their bottles signed.

They arrived at 9:15am after spending the previous evening bar-hopping all over New York City.

Stew Leonard’s was super-organized and kept the line moving.

Bryan and Aaron shook everyone’s hands, thanked them for coming and posed for photographs.

Today, some of Apple’s top brass (Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Greg Joswiak and Deirdre O’Brien) were on-hand for the grand reopening of the Apple Fifth Avenue store in New York City.  It’s also the launch day of the iPhone 11. I’ve never seen Schiller and Joswiak at an East Coast Apple Store so this was a rare appearance. They spoke briefly with reporters before entering the store via one of the two new side entranceways.  I never saw them again.

Tim Cook greeted people in line.  He was super-friendly and charismatic.  He and Deirdre opened the doors when the phone went on sale at 8am.  I later saw him in the store posing for selfies and having conversations with fans/customers.

Deirdre was in the store speaking with customers all day.  She genuinely cares about the retail operations.  And apparently she likes dogs (see below).

The new store is beautiful.  There are hypoallergenic trees which each originated from the same tree (an employee told me).  Off to the side is an Experience Room.  It’s one of only three in the world.  It simulates a room in your home so you can hear accurate acoustics. You sit on couches positioned in front of HomePod speakers and a flat screen television.

When I left, there was still a long line.  I haven’t seen a line this long for a product launch in years.  Later that afternoon, I went to the Grand Central store.  Equally long line.

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