Apple Store enthusiast and creative extraordinaire Michael Steeber today announced the launch of The Apple Store Time Machine, a new interactive Mac app that lets you "travel back in time" and revisit four iconic Apple Stores on their grand opening days.
"The Apple Store Time Machine is a celebration of the places and products that have shaped our lives for more than twenty years," said Steeber, who spent hundreds of hours researching, designing, and developing the project. "This interactive experience recreates memorable moments in Apple history with painstaking detail and historical accuracy."
The app is free to download and runs on Apple silicon Macs and recent Intel-based Macs. There is an option to make a donation on the project's website. Michael's brother Robert Steeber was also involved with the project, creating music and UI sounds.
The four Apple Store locations that the app allows you to experience are Apple Tysons Corner in Virginia circa 2001, Apple Stanford Shopping Center in California circa 2004, Apple Fifth Avenue in New York circa 2006, and Apple Infinite Loop in California circa 2015. All four stores include easter eggs such as iPhone and Mac commercials, interactive Mac apps like GarageBand and Photo Booth, a ringing phone at the original Genius Bar, and more.
The app is similar to a video game or a simulator, complete with keyboard controls for moving around stores, but Steeber prefers to describe the app as an experience. However you view it, it's clear that Steeber put a tremendous amount of effort into this project, with every detail accounted for, down to the last iPod and box of software.
For more Apple Store coverage, subscribe to Steeber's newsletter "Tabletops."
Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
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Awww. I was at the opening of the 5th ave store... Even snapped a picture of Steve and his wife as they unexpectedly exited out of the FAO Shwarz next door... :)
Back when Apple Stores were a joy to go to. Back before AA & Timmy completely demolished what made them so special.....
Once you get past the novelty of early Apple Stores, they are basically the same now but with the obsolete parts, like physical software boxes and iPod speaker docks, removed. And I have plenty of emotional/nostalgic affection for 2007-era Apple Stores as my wife and I met in one and we go back to that store each year on our anniversary.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
