Downtown Toronto is About to Get a New Apple Store [Updated]

Wednesday November 27, 2019 7:37 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Update: In its Apple Store app, Apple has confirmed that its new Eaton Centre location opens Saturday, December 14 at 9:00 a.m. local time.

Original story follows.



The construction barriers covering an all-new Apple Store are nearly ready to come down at North America's busiest shopping mall.

Apple is set to open an over 10,000-square-foot store at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Canada as early as December, according to a source, who said the grand opening will likely occur within the first half of the month.

Apple's existing store at the Eaton Centre

Unlike other Apple Stores, Today at Apple sessions at the existing Apple Eaton Centre location abruptly end after Friday, December 6, suggesting that the new store could open on Saturday, December 7. However, our source believes that employee training could push back the opening until Saturday, December 14.

MacRumors was first to report on Apple's plans for a new store at the Eaton Centre back in January, when Apple filed a building permit for a new street-level store near the Queen Street entrance to the mall. The new store will take over a space recently vacated by apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch.


Apple's new store will be more than twice as large as the current 4,977-square-foot store, according to an Eaton Centre floor plan. The extra space is much needed, as not only is the Eaton Centre the busiest shopping mall in North America, but it is home to Apple's only store in Toronto's downtown core.

Apple has three other stores in Toronto at Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens, and Fairview, all within shopping malls. Rumors suggest Apple plans to open its first street-facing store at The One, an upcoming condominium and retail complex slated to open by 2022 at the busy intersection of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
Tag: Canada
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calzon65
2 weeks ago
When Apple came out with their first store, many people were skeptical, but Apple stores have turned out to be a huge success, not only providing retail store sales but as a way to market the overall brand.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Steve.P.JobsFan
2 weeks ago
The Eaton Centre store really needs the extra space. I went in there once back in 2013 and I felt like I was packed into a minimalist glass-and-wood sardine tin with how cramped it was!
Rating: 7 Votes
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lunarworks
2 weeks ago
This is ten years overdue, honestly. The store is absolutely packed at the best of times. I don't know the thought process behind having only one tiny store in the downtown of North America's fourth largest city.


Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too.

It helps that it has two subway stations connected to it, and is in the heaviest pedestrian area in Canada. This isn't like some suburban mall surrounded by a sea of parking, it's in a thriving downtown core.
Rating: 5 Votes
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CanadianGuy
2 weeks ago
Damn, was excited to hear about a 'new' store, not so much about a 'replacement' store.
Rating: 4 Votes
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DeanLubaki
2 weeks ago


Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?


Yup. And the Highway 401 in Toronto is also the busiest highway in North America ;)
Canadians cross the border into Detroit just as much as Americans cross the border into Windsor.
But Toronto is much farther from a major US city than Windsor is from Detroit, so we don't get as much Americans from the border area.
Rating: 4 Votes
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EugW
2 weeks ago
It’s about time. Going to that store had become extremely painful, even by several years ago. Overcrowded and often quite disorganized. It seems that Apple’s approach to in-store customer service had serious problems once stores became that busy. Worked better for less crowded stores.



Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?

Toronto is a popular tourist destination for Americans, of course, and Eaton Centre is also a popular tourist destination.
Rating: 3 Votes
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satchmo
2 weeks ago


This is much needed. Hate going to the old Eaton Centre store which is always packed like a can of sardines. But this is a stop-gap measure at best. Even at twice the size of the old one the new store will still be too small. We really need a proper flagship Apple Store. Hope the rumors about the one at Yonge and Bloor are true. Any update on that one?


Yes, something bold and unique that could become as iconic as the Apple glass cube store in New York.

Steve Martin on 30 Rock, "Toronto is just like New York...without all the stuff." ?
Rating: 3 Votes
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jicon
2 weeks ago


Still amazed that the Eaton Centre is busiest shopping mall in North America, which covers the US, too. I wonder if some Americans cross the border much like Canadians do into Detroit?

I've only lived in the GTA a year, but I think it is driven mainly by being so close to a major transportation hub, Union Station, which doesn't really leave much room to depart south of the station. Most people leaving the train or subway are heading north. My wife goes in to Toronto every once in a while, and each time, she's on foot, going through the PATH, or going through the mall on the way to work.
Rating: 2 Votes
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V.K.
2 weeks ago
This is much needed. Hate going to the old Eaton Centre store which is always packed like a can of sardines. But this is a stop-gap measure at best. Even at twice the size of the old one the new store will still be too small. We really need a proper flagship Apple Store. Hope the rumors about the one at Yonge and Bloor are true. Any update on that one?


It may be the only Apple Store but I get most of my gear and support from Jump Plus at College and Spadina. They were the first apple dealers. https://shop.jumpplus.com

Newly released products show up at Jump much later than at the Eaton store. And several times their support sent me to the Genius Bar. I don't even try them for support any more. I do buy things occasionally there but mostly cables and such.
Rating: 2 Votes
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EugW
2 weeks ago


The Eaton Centre is North America's busiest shopping mall? Really?!

Yes. 50 million visitors in 2017, almost 20% more traffic than number 2.

Number 2 was Ala Moana in Honolulu at 42 million.

https://www.bisnow.com/toronto/news/retail/cf-toronto-eaton-centre-busiest-mall-in-na-study-84158#ath
Rating: 2 Votes

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