New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The lights will inspire you,
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York
– Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind.
Those were the lyrics of the song that echoed through my mind as I slipped on my cleanest dirty shirt and a pair of stone washed jeans, buckled my sandals, grabbed my knap sack with a couple of books and dashed through the door to board the bus to the city – Manhattan.
It was my first assignment to write a report on an interesting place that I have visited. And I chose the Apple store, located on Fifth Avenue, as I have found it exciting and fascinating to visit.
Now, the cynics may ask, what’s so fascinating about visiting a store or they may even frown, roll the eyes and utter words such as, crazy, dull, and boring. However, I would hasten to dispel such notions by showing that a visit to this store is shopping at its best and worth experiencing.
The store’s architecture is aesthetically appealing in design. However, it is dull in color on the outside, partly because of the acrylic type materials used. Notwithstanding, the glass-like porch entrance has boosted its image and makes it conspicuous among a sea of stores that lines the avenue.
Outside the store is a festival of activities and events as in the immediate vicinity lies a conservatory, Central Park, a 250-acre lawn that consists of trees, lakes, streams, woodlands, shrubs, flowers, playgrounds, sculptures and monuments of all sizes – a popular tourist attraction and an excellent backdrop for the store.
The store is sited at subterranean level, and one can either enter it in a glass-like bucket type elevator or by walking down a helical shaped stairway. Standing at the entrance at the top are two friendly customer service representatives who greet shoppers with a warm smile and seem ready to help at the drop of a hat. In addition, custodians may be seen in the background cleaning constantly, thus giving the place a spotless look.
Once inside the store, it’s high tech talk, and to the uninformed it’s like the tower of Babel. The busy customer traffic and the high noise level from chatting give a beehive and carnival-like atmosphere within the store. The casual but uniformly dressed busy sales representatives are alert and attentive as they are seen addressing numerous queries and complaints from customers.
The gadgets and accessories seem to have a god-like status among the customers. Everyone, including the children, seems to be caught up in a rapture of excitement and joy as they touch and play with all the different gadgets on display. Christmas immediately comes to mind, but the fact is, it’s not.
Adding to the comfort and ambience of the store are walls decorated in murals of Apple’s logo along with other artistic features that reflects a happy mood, an immaculately clean grayish colored glazed floor, sturdy tables laid with all types of high tech gadgets surrounded by people with heads down as if at an altar of worship, and seats ranging from tall stools to brightly colored soft leatherette sofa-like settees.
Have a computer problem? Well, there is a special designated area referred to as the Genius Bar where one can go for help. In addition, one will find a workshop in progress that can be attended by anyone who feels technically challenged.
Although it is a rule by many stores not to have pets inside, here, not so, as dogs mix with shoppers at will. There are also amenities provided for the physically challenged.
In taking a trip to this store, one would find it not only a shopper’s delight but also a captivating experience.
It’s a bite worth taking, what say you? ∅
