Apple is closing its Apple Store located in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which will affect 52 employees who currently work at the store and will need to be relocated, reports Bloomberg.
Apple has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the state of New Jersey signaling its intention to shutter the store. It's not clear exactly when the store will be closed, as the store's website does not yet list a closing date and Today at Apple sessions continue to be available.
It is rare for Apple to shutter stores completely, and in a statement, an Apple spokesperson told Bloomberg that the closure was due to a "sharp decline in tourism." "We have made the difficult decision not to extend our lease," said the spokesperson.
Apple says that all of the store's employees will be offered other jobs within Apple. "We look forward to serving our Greater Atlantic City customers through our southern New Jersey, Delaware Valley, and Greater Philadelphia area stores," read Apple's statement.
The last store that Apple closed was located in Simi Valley, California, which Apple shut down in September 2017 due to low sales and issues with customer traffic.
Update: Apple's store page for the Atlantic City location now notes that June 30 will be the final day of operation.
Top Rated Comments
But you had to transition into your fact-free fantasy world where Apple is somehow a villain for being a for-profit company. No profitable company builds stores exclusively for customer convenience. Not even Starbucks. They do it primarily to increase sales. Seems like 10 y.o. lemonade stand logic but maybe not. Yes, markets with money are where companies want to be because sales can't be made without buyers (who have money). In AC's case, it's rebirth hasn't panned out as projected. You erroneously opine that Apple's leaving will kill the shopping area. Thing is, Apple is one of the last to leave, not the first, not to mention major casinos that where shuttered for years.
It's never pleasant when layoffs happen but no company wants to close a location, admit failure there, and no employee rationally believes they have a guaranteed job.
So I'd say you need to find a more fact based rant for next time.
Granted I’ve only gone in twice in 8 years...
AC has been in a major downturn for many years (tourism, gambling, etc), there has been a major uptick in the past year. All casinos turned a profit 2018 YTD vs last five years.
There was no parking for this store. You either had to park at a casino (most were $10 during the week and up to $20 on the weekends). Or there was a lot a block away from the store that would let you stay for less than an hour for a few $$.
The “south jersey” store they refer to is an hour away (Marlton). So effectively, online shopping is the only feasible Apple store experience for those of us stuck in “south” south NJ.
AC truly is going through a revitalization. As a husband and father of two, expendable gambling money is non-existent. However, the restaurant scene is still quite good. Beaches, not so much (go to ventnor, longport, margate or ocean city). Revel is reopening under new owners, brand and name. Hard Rock is opening next month as well.
Stockton University just purchased a ton of real estate and is building an entire “island” campus (ventnor) less than a mile away from the soon to close Apple store. I’m surprised they didn’t wait another year as they would of had quite a bit of potential student clients.