[Ohenri]

no grab bags? crap.

hardly worth ttc-ing up in that case.

Yep. I too was a little deflated when i found out. I was ready, card in hand and I was making room already for a BT keyboard, and trying to figure out which family member I was going to give my older iPod to. Oh well....

Will still go. Might just grab thatBT KB anyhow, as I would assume that there will be that very elusive sale on Apple h/w. Getting a iPod Photo fer sure...

i'll visit next month when it's less crazy

Nah. I love the atmosphere of a launch. Only happens 1nce. Kinda like when I was @ the Apple LV store when they launched the Minis, months before the did the international launch (can't find the thread I posted, but it was nutty!).

** HEY **

does anyone remember this?? a Nov 15th, 2002 post: Apple Store in TO rumour



Just came across that in a search of older posts. 2.5 yrs ago?? If they only saw the thread now, esp mycatsnameis: he hit it right in the bull's eye!

Btw, 50k views are here. It can't all be just ehmacians, could it??

H!

 

[adagio]

There's a few of us who have been anticipating this day for a long, long time.

I must admit I was a tad disappointed in the size of this first store. Also, I'm not all that impressed with it's location within the mall. Still, it's an Apple store and only a couple of miles from where I live.

My wish has come true.

 

[trump]

There's a few of us who have been anticipating this day for a long, long time.

I must admit I was a tad disappointed in the size of this first store. Also, I'm not all that impressed with it's location within the mall. Still, it's an Apple store and only a couple of miles from where I live.

My wish has come true.

If it makes you feel any better, there is going to be a high-profile store opening in the Eaton Centre...eventually. Apple is known to wait years for the perfect space to become available

 

[joltguy]

I'm looking forward to meeting some of you there! Should be geeky fun. I'm still trying to decide on how early to arrive... I'd love to be somewhere in the first batch of people who walk (run?) in while the employees are lined up and cheering.

I also just wanted to say a huge thanks to gmark2000 for his remarkable dedication and quality updates.

 

[marrmoo]

About to head out for our annual family camping trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Our 15th consecutive year came very close to not happening due to the "Store" opening. Pains me not to be part of the Ehmac crowd that is going to gather ,but pails in comparison to the "pain" a divorce lawyer would inflict on me .
Enjoy the festivities. Oh what I would give for a t-shirt!

 

[Heart]

Approaching 51000 views

 

[jhembach]

Less than 24 hours to go!

Hi everyone,

I just registered and this is my first post. This thread has been really incredible! I just thought I'd toss in a few questions...

- Does anyone, from experience with other openings, have any useful estimate of how many people will be in the queue by 9:30?
- Does anyone know if the lineup area is within range of a public hotspot?

Also, someone asked about live pictures... I haven't decided yet whether I'll be lining up late tonight or very early tomorrow, though I'm leaning towards the latter. In any case, I plan to be posting live photos & commentary (I'll post the URL later tonight) - the number of photos will depend on whether wifi is available though, as my mobile phone data plan is a much pricier option.

See you all tomorrow!

 

[IronMac]

- Does anyone, from experience with other openings, have any useful estimate of how many people will be in the queue by 9:30?
- Does anyone know if the lineup area is within range of a public hotspot?

First, I don't think anyone has a clue as to how many people will be there by 9:30. It is a holiday weekend and, if you look at the poll in another thread, the number of people going is neck and neck with the number of people who are not. That being said, the popularity of this thread and the size of Toronto will ensure that there will be a very large turnout.
Second, no...there is a free Wi-Fi hotspot over at Casey's but the range is too far. You may be able to send stuff when it's open but it closes at 1:00 am and probably does not open until 6:00 am.

 

[gmark2000]

As mentioned earlier, Casey's Bar & Grill has free wifi in the restaurant. That being said I was successfully posting here while sitting OUTSIDE the restaurant and I had full bars on my TiBook.

While I was sitting there, the Apple Store Wifi kept flicking on-and-off. I would assume that once people are permitted inside the mall (anytime between 5:30 and 6:30am), you'll get a good signal inside because the Airport Base Stations are pretty strong inside the stores.

A good primer for Apple Store openings is on the ifoAppleStore.com website. Scroll down this page to the "Grand Openings" chapter and read all about openings: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/the_stores.html It states that there's an average of 200 people waiting by 9:30am, BUT of course there are over a hundred stores in the U.S. and Yorkdale will be the first Canadian Apple Store.

The London Regent Street flagship store opening last fall had about 5,000 in line and the Toyko Ginza flagship had several thousand as well. The largest Apple Store, Chicago's North Michigan Avenue ("Magnificent Mile") location had 2,000 persons lined-up by opening.

This store is not a flagship by any means and other than the local media who have been notified and will be covering for the 6pm news, there's not been much ink because the whisper campaign from threads like these have created enough buzz to ensure a crowd for Saturday morning. Yorkdale could not accommodate 5,000 people in queue. The queue is located in the best possible place since there are no streetfront retail stores on the Southside that would be impacted by the crowds. My prediction is 1,000 persons queued by 9:00am.

Further to the comments made on another thread, this store is 3500 square feet and was the former location of the Bombay Company (moved to the North side of the mall) and has a 40 foot frontage (there is a 16 foot strip on the left/west side of the store for stockroom, equipment and employee areas). It is not as big as the Buffalo Walden Galleria Store but it is a fairly sizeable store because it uses almost the full depth of the retail space.

I do look forward to seeing lots of pictures, video and blogging from ehMacers attending since I can't be there. Undoubtedly, the majority of people there will have heard about the store opening through ehMac as this is the most active thread that comes up on Google searches.

EDIT: Taking off now. Have a great weekend everybody!

 

[isergio04]

It is about 3:40pm and we have just arrived in Toronto(from Cleveland). We will be going to the mall to see the store this evening and will be there bright and early in the moring. If you see a green Isuzu Rodeo with "Cleveland to Toronto- 1st Canadian Apple Store" on the back window that is me. We had many people honk and wave to us once we got into canada.We will take picture this evening and in the moring and I should have them posted by about 11:30am(Sat)

 

[carthis]

.

 

[jonmon]

what are you guys going to do when you get inside the store?

i'm sure there will be lots of people who are going just for the experience and dont need anymore mac stuff.

so will you just take in the sights for a moment and then leave to get your tshirt?

 

[mikelr]

So you only get a t-shirt if when you leave the store what if you stayed a long time and even though you arrived within the first 1500 but you were not the 1500 to leave.

Could you go out then back in after the line has gone through?

 

[IronMac]

what are you guys going to do when you get inside the store?

i'm sure there will be lots of people who are going just for the experience and dont need anymore mac stuff.

so will you just take in the sights for a moment and then leave to get your tshirt?

The idea of re-enacting a sacking in the Viking style comes to mind...

 

[jimtimesinfinity]

The idea of re-enacting a sacking in the Viking style comes to mind...

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit pillaging

I can't wait. I met Brian who works at the store when I was in Buffalo for the Tiger Release Event. Look for me in my white iProp (with mac geek) button. I'll be lining up later tonight with my brother and wife.

 

[aarplane]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit pillaging

I can't wait. I met Brian who works at the store when I was in Buffalo for the Tiger Release Event. Look for me in my white iProp (with mac geek) button. I'll be lining up later tonight with my brother and wife.

I like how you said that you'll be lining up later tonight. You've got a long time to wait, my friend!

Anyway..to all ehMac members that are going....have a good time *gulp* without me. I really wish I could make it. Maybe when the flagship is built in Eatons, I'll be in attendance.

Have fun guys!

By the way, if you have any photos, please send them (zipped up) to aarplaneATmacteensDOTcom as I will be writing an article for the frontpage of Macteens , and would like some nice photos to use

It would help me out a whole bunch!

 

[brandon.macuser]

Live News!

I am currently the second person in line and my mother is third, i stepped over to kacey's while she held my spot.

The barracades went up around 7:30 pm and they've allowed us to line up accordingly.

Come on you die hard mac fans, join us tonight its quite lonely here!

 

[T-hill]

Later... I don't want to be seen in daylight doing this! (After my open mocking of Star Wars fans over the last number of years)

 

[IronMac]

Bad News

I've just made up my mind a couple of minutes ago not to head on up to Yorkdale. It was a really hard decision to make.

But, I've got a big exam coming up in a couple of weeks that means a lot for my future career plans and I can spend my time a lot more productively over the next 13 hours than sitting in line to get a t-shirt. *sighhh*

Have fun everyone and keep us posted!!!

 

[Cliffy]

I am currently the second person in line and my mother is third, i stepped over to kacey's while she held my spot.

The barracades went up around 7:30 pm and they've allowed us to line up accordingly.

Come on you die hard mac fans, join us tonight its quite lonely here!

I am going to be leaving in a little while myself. See you there!