Apple Store Grand Opening: Mall of America

[caver01]

It’s not an actual meet-up, but it was an event. Think of this as a retro-event. Perfect, right?

These are photos during my visit to the opening of Apple Store #3, Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. This is a suburb of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul). The date was August 11, 2001. Two posts of images follows:

 

[caver01]

 

[KnobsNSwitches]

Thanks for posting these. I started working at the MOA store in September of that year. Fun to see old co-workers and the store at the time.

 

[eric]

Every time I visit the MOA it's a must stop just to see everything new. And Lego store. My wife and I both waited in line for 10.5 here and got the free shirts

 

[ScutBoy]

I was there - I think I see my (very tall) friend in one of the pictures

 

[Byte Knight]

Cool pictures - thanks for posting! And whatever happened to that copycat Microsoft store across from it? Oh yeah, Ghandi!

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Very cool to see these retro Apple store pics although I have never been to MOA which is about 1300 miles away.

Love the TOTC pics though. Takes me back

 

[This Does Not Compute]

That store was in the same location in the mall for close to 20 years. I remember getting a chuckle when Microsoft opened a store directly across from it, and also showing up at like 8am one day to watch the simulcast of a keynote (probably in 2003). A couple years ago the store moved into a bigger location in a different wing.

Also, I have it on good authority that for a long time, Colorware purchased the Apple products it painted and resold from the MOA location. Eventually Apple caught on and told them to knock it off.

 

[SteveHere]

I was there - I think I see my (very tall) friend in one of the pictures

I was there, too, but I don’t see myself or my friends in the photos. Did you get the T-shirt with the blue Apple Logo? Good times, thanks @caver01 for posting the pictures!

 

[caver01]

I am pretty sure I did get the t-shirt unless they ran out by the time we got in. As you can see, we were on the second floor before getting in line and it stretched all the way down and around the corner.

I know I had a shirt (long since worn out) but I might be remembering the one from the Rosedale store opening. . .??

 

[ScutBoy]

My T-shirt wore out long ago as well.