Apple Opens a Store in Tyson’s Corner, May 19, 2001

© 2001 Lykara I. Charters and Lawrence I. Charters

Washington Apple Pi Journal, Vol. 23, no. 4, July-August 2001, pp. 14-21.

While not, technically, a Washington Apple Pi event, it might as well have been: Washington Apple Pi members were there in force for the open­ing of the Apple Store in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. People — members and non-members – came from all over the mid-Atlantic states to see what Apple’s idea of a store should be, to see what goodies might be avail­able, and to come away with a free T-shirt if they were among the first 1,000 through the door.

Fairfax County Police were on hand to handle crowd con­trol. For several hours prior to the opening, watching the officers talk was the only thing happening near the store: the roll-up black door was down, and the windows were dark. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Fairfax County Police were on hand to handle crowd con­trol. For several hours prior to the opening, watching the officers talk was the only thing happening near the store: the roll-up black door was down, and the windows were dark. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)

People started lining up at 4 a.m., though security guards made them leave and come back later. By 9:30 a.m., half an hour before the start, the line snaked throughout the upper level of the mall, with literally hundreds of people in line. Mall workers complained, in a good-natured sort of way, that so many people came for the opening that all the parking spaces were filled before most mall shops even opened. “It’s like Christmas.”

The first person in line arrived at 4 a.m. The second person in line drove down from New Jersey to see the Apple Store open. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
The first person in line arrived at 4 a.m. The second person in line drove down from New Jersey to see the Apple Store open. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)

The two most popular questions asked in line were:

  • “Why are all you guys standing in line?” (Asked by passers-by)
  • “Why didn’t Washington Apple Pi pass out mem­bership brochures and magazines to everyone in line?” (Asked by Pi members)
It is 9:15 a.m. and the line extends hundreds of feet from the store. The mall is deserted - except for those waiting in line and a few early-morning cof­fee seekers. The Lexus on display was the right color, but definitely not the right size for those more in­terested in PowerBook G4 computers. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
It is 9:15 a.m.,
It is 9:15 a.m. and the line extends hundreds of feet from the store. The mall is deserted – except for those waiting in line and a few early-morning cof­fee seekers. The Lexus on display was the right color, but definitely not the right size for those more in­terested in PowerBook G4 computers. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)

Prior to the store opening, there wasn’t much to do except exchange Mac tips with other people in line. When the lights came on just before 10 a.m., there was a standing ovation, followed almost immediately by a big­ger standing ovation as the jet-black door to the store rolled up and open. This was soon followed by the so­bering realization that, for most of those in line, actually getting in the store would take an hour or more. Fairfax County Police were on hand to prevent overcrowding.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," was a popular refrain among those in line. One person remarked that they "Won't even wait in line for a White House tour," which prompted an informal game of other things people wouldn't wait for — but they would wait for an Apple Store opening. Another person standing near the end, noting they could have gone to the airshow at Andrews Air Force Base (also scheduled for May 19), cheerfully decided they could go next year, instead — only with a new iBook. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” was a popular refrain among those in line. One person remarked that they “Won’t even wait in line for a White House tour,” which prompted an informal game of other things people wouldn’t wait for — but they would wait for an Apple Store opening. Another person standing near the end, noting they could have gone to the airshow at Andrews Air Force Base (also scheduled for May 19), cheerfully decided they could go next year, instead — only with a new iBook. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)

It was a banner day for digital cameras as dozens of people took pictures of friends and strangers stand­ing in line. Digital video cameras were also out in abun­dance, and many people brought PowerBooks or iBooks to watch movies or write notes while waiting. Once they got near the store, there were occasional shrieks of delight as AirPort users discovered they could log in to the Internet using the store’s wireless network.

This little Mac user came properly attired for the store open­ing. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)

Once inside, virtually everyone came away impressed with the tasteful, functional layout and knowledgeable staff. There were geeks at the “Genius” bar to help with complex questions, and more “normal” types to help novices with more down-to-­earth tasks. Everyone leaving the store with a bag or a box was immedi­ately tracked by hundreds of sets of eyes, wondering what they had purchased. Store personnel also went out and walked down the line, showing an iBook in action, surfing the Web via the store’s AirPort wireless network. Apple, the world’s oldest personal computer company, has tried many things in its long and storied history. So far, the Apple store looks like one of the better ones.

For more coverage of the opening, including QuickTime clips, visit: http://w.vw.wa:p.org/events/applestore/

For official Apple information, including a map to the store, visit:

http: //www.apple.com/retail/tysons/

When the lights came on at 10 a.m., the crowd gave the event a standing ovation. One store window features an Apple menu bar. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
When the lights came on at 10 a.m., the crowd gave the event a standing ovation. One store window features an Apple menu bar. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Some kids were born to use Macs. (Photo by Lykara Char­ters)
Some kids were born to use Macs. (Photo by Lykara Char­ters)
One of the first stand-alone displays features the brand-new iBook. AirPort networking is used to create a nice, clean display and remind users that wireless is cool. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
One of the first stand-alone displays features the brand-new iBook. AirPort networking is used to create a nice, clean display and remind users that wireless is cool. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Store personnel sported black T-shirts. Most of their time seemed to be spent telling customers, "Yes, it really is that easy." (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Store personnel sported black T-shirts. Most of their time seemed to be spent telling customers, “Yes, it really is that easy.” (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
The children's section is sized for kids, and stocked with educational software. The iMacs were constantly in use, with children telling their parents how to work the ma­chines. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
The children’s section is sized for kids, and stocked with educational software. The iMacs were constantly in use, with children telling their parents how to work the ma­chines. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Exposing customers to the wonders of digital photography, Apple mounted some Canon S-100 digital cameras (about the size of a pack of playing cards) on posts, and connected them to iMacs. You can barely see the Canon camera in pro­ file, seeming to hover over the iMac's handle. ( Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
Exposing customers to the wonders of digital photography, Apple mounted some Canon S-100 digital cameras (about the size of a pack of playing cards) on posts, and connected them to iMacs. You can barely see the Canon camera in pro­ file, seeming to hover over the iMac’s handle. ( Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
While the store does cam; a large software collection, it is prob­ably the weakest section of the store, with only a tiny fraction of the available Mac titles. (Photo by Lykara Charters)
While the store does cam; a large software collection, it is prob­ably the weakest section of the store, with only a tiny fraction of the available Mac titles. (Photo by Lykara Charters)
The Genius Bar at the back of the store offers customers a chance to ask technical questions. PowerBook G4 computers are used to look up answers, or demonstrate answers; because they are portables, the staff can easily pick them up and set them on the counter facing visitors and give interactive answers. The Genius Bar is equipped with The Red Telephone (the staff has a knack of referring to it with Capital Letters, used for connecting to even higher-order geniuses back at Apple headquarters for particularly difficult questions. The first use of the phone was a bust: nobody in Cupertino had an answer, either. However, I did get a phone call from "Nan" at the Tyson's store a few days after the opening, She gave a detailed answer and apologized for taking so long. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
The Genius Bar at the back of the store offers customers a chance to ask technical questions. PowerBook G4 computers are used to look up answers, or demonstrate answers; because they are portables, the staff can easily pick them up and set them on the counter facing visitors and give interactive answers. The Genius Bar is equipped with The Red Telephone (the staff has a knack of referring to it with Capital Letters, used for connecting to even higher-order geniuses back at Apple headquarters for particularly difficult questions. The first use of the phone was a bust: nobody in Cupertino had an answer, either. However, I did get a phone call from “Nan” at the Tyson’s store a few days after the opening, She gave a detailed answer and apologized for taking so long. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
The checkout counter in front features two iMacs as "registers," with receipts laser-printed on Apple bond paper. On opening day, at least, check-out personnel were courteous and helpful, but didn't ask such im­portant questions as, "Do you have the cables for that?" or "Do you need blank CD-ROMs?" (Photo by Lawrence l. Charters)
The checkout counter in front features two iMacs as “registers,” with receipts laser-printed on Apple bond paper. On opening day, at least, check-out personnel were courteous and helpful, but didn’t ask such im­portant questions as, “Do you have the cables for that?” or “Do you need blank CD-ROMs?” (Photo by Lawrence l. Charters)