Apple is leveraging learnings from reopening its stores in China and Italy, among other countries heavily hit by COVID-19 shutdowns, as it returns more than 70 U.S. locations to operation this week., primarily in the Northeast and California. Following local regulations, many of these stores, located primarily in the Northeast and California, will offer curbside pickup of online orders and curbside Genius Support by appointment, with in-store visits to come later.
Apple reopened 10 of its New York City locations on June 17, including six in Manhattan, according to 9to5Mac’s Apple Retail Store Tracker. The World Trade Center location is an exception because the mall it is located within has not yet reopened to the public.
Approximately 225 of Apple’s 271 U.S. locations will be doing business, either curbside or in-store, by the end of the week of June 15. In addition to 17 stores in New York state, Apple reopened 11 in California, nine in New Jersey and five in Canada on June 17. On June 20, it will reopen 11 locations in Massachusetts, three in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania, which will be the fifth store to open in the state. Seven Connecticut stores will be in operation by the end of the week.
Apple’s 42 locations in China had been opened by mid-March, Apple told Reuters. “In Greater China, we saw the importance of swift action — and the critical importance of social distance — to slow the virus’ spread,” wrote Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s SVP of Retail + People in a letter to customers. “And, as time has gone on, we’ve continued to refine and expand our in‑store health and safety measures, which have proven so effective in places like Greater China, where our stores have been safely open for months.”
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