Buchanan Street - Glasgow, Scotland
This city of 629,000 is Britain's second largest shopping district, and is home to 3 major universities and several colleges. The city's demographic is high on younger and educated residents. Stone-paved Buchanan Street is home to many high-end shops and restaurants, and the 80-store Buchanan Galleries mall. On Oct. 11, 2006 Apple filed paperwork to renovate the building at 147 Buchanan Street at the corner of St. Vincent St., in the middle of the district. The 3-story bulding was designed by architect David Hamilton in 1841 as the Western Club (although just two walls of the original building remain after earlier retail renovations). It was most recently occupied by The Pier, a home furnishings store. It's considered a Category A historic building, meaning it's "national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or fine little-altered examples of some particular period, style or building type." The proposed renovations include removing the mezzanine level, installing a second floor, a spiral glass staircase, stainless steel interior walls, and second-level Genius/Studio bars. The plans don't include a theater, but make use of the basement for storage. Total cost £1,168,000 ($2.2 million). Interior renovations approved by city officials on Jan. 23 ,2007. Construction started in February, 2007, with a grand opening in July, 2007. It would be the first store in Scotland, and geographically the furthest-north store in the chain. Job listings posted Feb. 22, 2007. Recruiting from universities in mid-March. Scaffolding inside in mid-May with some construction underway.