[SeSawaya]

Got there 2 hours early and was #240 in line. Awesome place. The line ended up streching around the block 1 1/2 times!!! I full Chicago city block. Amazing.

As we walked in nearly the entire staff was lined up on both sides of the door cheering. DJ was playing, then the band kicked in at 8pm.

iSight is freaking awesome but I am too poor to buy one. MANY people did though. They gave away 20 of them but i lost. I saw a 7 year old kid win one though. Grrrrrrr

No cafe right now. Upper roof has a garden and lecture hall (or something like that) but it wasnt open.

Anyhow, loved it. Cant wait to go back when its not horribly crowded.

See the Pictures in reverse order, here
http://homepage.mac.com/sonordrum/PhotoAlbum28.html

[xyber233]

Hey, thanks for the pics. I was unable to go to the store today but I will be going tomorrow. Looks like a great store! I can't wait .

[Zigmanx001]

I see myself and a friend in one of your pics... very far off, but it's us :-). Good times, eh?

[marusin]

Hey all,

Here are some pics of my experience at the Apple Store tonight. I had a great time and took home an iSight (purchased, not won)... The thing is so much fun.. We had a blast chatting with folks on iSights there over the Rendezvous Network... I would love to chat with anyone here to test it out over broadband.. my aim name is [email protected]

http://www.marusin.com/gallery/AppleMichiganAvenue

Enjoy!

[ThinkInsane]

Wow, sweet store. That glass stairway rocks. I am very jeolous, the closest Apple stores to me are in Albany and Buffalo, three hours in either direction. I've noticed on Apple's website that they have had jobs listed for a Syracuse store, but as of yet, there is no Syracuse store. It's sad. Thanks for the pics.

[RGB]

I drove downtown, paid up the ass for parking, then walked down Michigan Ave. till i got to the store at around 8:30. Saw the line. Couldn't see the end of the line. Stared in the front window for a minute then left. I wasn't gonna wait in line there, I was with a friend who wasn't very into going. Wish I coulda gone in, looked like a fun party w/ the band!

[mathew_m]

I dig the Apple stores but you couldn't pay me to stand in line for one of the grand openings. Just head back there in a week and explore to your heart's content without the hub bub.

Also I'd hate to be one of the Apple store employees who has to wear one of those "I'm an Apple drone" T-shirts. Nothing says "I'm an out of work graphic artist" more than having a corporate logo silk screened on your work shirt.

[shrink]

Thanks for the pics. They look great. It looks like that place was really hopping. I also love the critical mass folks! I'm originally from Chicago and would have loved to check out the store this weekend. However, I will be visiting the weekend of the 4th so I'll try to pop in then (there are so many other things to do in Chicago, and unfortunately I don't think visiting the Apple store will be a priority). Can any New Yorkers tell us how the SOHO store compares? I've heard some great things about that place as well.

I think that store is going to get a ton of curious visitors and this will be great for Apple. The Mag Mile is mostly tourists, especially in the summer, so I don't think they'll be selliing a ton of systems (can you imagine trying to take an iMac box on a plane?). On second thought, that big CompUSA off Chicago Ave. just down the street seems to be doing just fine, so maybe the dowtown business folks or Goldcoast residents will be happy to spend their money there.

Finally, to the guy above who paid too much for parking - park a little up north next time (e.g., Fullerton, Belmont, Addison, Irving) and just take the Redline for $1.50. It is so much more convenient and cheaper.

[JonoG4]

Beautiful. I love the Apple logo window and the glass stairs. Now we just need some Apple stores in Canada! Of course, since I live in a crappy town, the closest possible Apple Store to me would probably be at least 5 hours away, if not more.

[SeSawaya]

I'd like to know how many isights they sold last night! Man EVERYONE had one.

The woman in front of me in line spent $850 in video games for her kid!! WOW!

The wost part for us was getting there. Being from Indiana the SKYWAY is having major work done. It had a 14 mile backup on the toll road!!! We took an alternate route (20) in. a easy 1:15 min drive turned into 3hrs. Taste of Chicago and a cubs/sox game didnt help.

NOt sure if I'd go to another opening (like there would be another one as cool around me) but this one was the one to go to.


Glad everyone liked the pics.

[wdlove]

Very nice pictures, SeSawaya thank you! It's awesome!

I just wish we had one like that here in Boston. All 3 of ours are in a Mall, they lack character!

[SeSawaya]

no problem WD, glad I could do it!

Here are some really great clean pics on Apples site

http://www.apple.com/retail/northmic.../gallery1.html

You can even see the "garden"

[waxcrash]

[euphras]

We need Apple stores here in Europe!!!

Apple, can you hear me?!?

[ehjay]

hey, you caught my dad, a friend of mine, and myself in one of your pics. heading down the stairs. (i'm wearing the Apple Store Woodfield shirt, if you care to try and spot me.)

that place was hopping.. i got there around 7, the line wrapped all the way back around the corner.. had to stand on opposite corner of the block for a while. i was actually the end of the line there for a while!

love the store, hope to go back again sometime soon and check it out when it's less crowded.

the guy right in front of me won an iSight.. i would've got the winning card had he not stepped in front of me!

[tikki]

Wow, that place is...amazing. I am definitely going to go there instead of Keystone to buy my G5

[xyber233]

I went there today and wow.....it was amazing. The location is great too. There was a huge crowd inside and everyone who walked by slowed down to peek in the store and a lot of them wandered in. The Sony store seemed a little emptier than before .