Apple has confirmed that it is to permanently shut its Apple Northbrook store in Chicago.
It’s common for Apple to close an Apple Store, but very rare for it not just being that it’s moving to a nearby and typically larger location. In the past few years, only a handful of stores have permanently closed, such as the Atlantic City one, Royal Hawaiian, and MacArthur Center.
Now according to Crain’s Chicago Business, Apple’s store in the Northbrook Court shopping mall is about to be permanently closed. There are no further details of when it will be shut, but Apple did release a statement confirming the closure.
“At Apple, we’re always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers,” said a spokesperson. “With the evolving redevelopment plans at Northbrook Court and the departure of several retailers, we have made the difficult decision to close our store there.”
Apple did also claim that employees at the store would continue in their roles. While, again, there are no further details, it’s probable that the staff will at least be offered positions in one of Chicago’s other eight Apple Stores.
The “evolving redevelopment” that Apple refers to is how the Northbrook Court mall’s owner, Brookfield Property Partners, is attempting to revive it following several store departures. Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, leisure firm Lululemon, and several smaller stores have closed.
Brookfield Property Partners is reported to be spending $825 million on revamping the mall. The plan is include donating space for an affordable housing complex, as well as creating a more high-end retail segment.
While Apple has not announced a closing date and, as yet, its store website continues to show regular opening times, it’s unlikely that the store will remain open much longer. Assuming that it does close later in 2025, it would be on the store’s 20th anniversary.
Apple Northbrook first opened on July 16, 2005. It later closed, only to relocate to another part of Northbrook Court mall, in 2017.
