Apple says it's reopening 25 US stores this week plus 12 stores in Canada, adding to nearly 100 global locations that have reopened so far
- Company has 100 stores back in operation after virus closures — Plans temperature checks and face coverings at every location
Bloomberg
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple's retail recovery has been sequenced by geography: the company brought all 42 of its China stores back online in mid-March under reduced hours, then began the US rollout on May 11 with pilot reopenings in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama, and Alaska using temperature checks. Today's announcement extends that playbook to Canada, bringing roughly 100 global locations into operation.
The significance is less about store counts than about the template: every location reopens with mandatory face coverings and temperature screening, making Apple's protocol the visible standard its retail peers are being measured against.
First-order effects
Customers in the newly reopened US and Canadian markets regain walk-in access to sales and service, but only under screening conditions that cap throughput at each location.
Apple's roughly 100 operational stores still leave the majority of its global fleet closed, so regional revenue and Genius Bar capacity remain constrained for now.
Second-order effects
Big-box and mall-based electronics retailers face pressure to match Apple's health protocols or cede the perception of safe in-store shopping as foot traffic restarts.
Apple's staged approach — China first, then low-density US states, then Canada — signals to landlords and shopping-center operators that anchor-tenant reopenings will arrive market-by-market rather than all at once.
Third-order effects
The December wave of nearly 100 closures in London, California, and Tennessee shows this reopening is a reversible toggle, pointing toward a structural model where flagship retail operates on a case-count-triggered open/close cycle instead of a fixed schedule.
If recurring closures persist, retailers will keep investing in appointment-based and curbside service capacity as the permanent hedge against store-level shutdowns.
The trend: Flagship retail is shifting from binary open/closed operations to protocol-driven toggling, with Apple's screening-and-reopening cadence serving as the industry's reference implementation.
Temperature checks, compulsory masks and only 40 customers at a time at the Apple store on Kudamm. Normal life feels like a distant memory. https://twitter.com/...
Apple plans to open 25 more stores in the US this week across California, Oklahoma, Washington state, Colorado, Hawaii, Florida. Plus, 12 stores in Canada opening next week. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Very measured approach by Apple on stores reopening, mostly aiming at providing support for customers who really need it. The memo from the Head of Retail makes it quite clear this is NOT business as usual https://www.apple.com/... https://twitter.com/...
“These are not decisions we rush into — and a store opening in no way means that we won't take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant.” Great insight on the reopening process in O'Brien's letter. Glad to see Apple addressing concerns: https://tw…
Hopefully not Montreal. We are nowhere nearly ready nor responsible enough for this. We couldn't even handle avoiding groups and wearing masks. Apple Retail could do a CDC-level job and we'd all still be shuffling around like myopic, inconsiderate little petrie dishes on legs. ht…
I lived in Montreal for most of my life. I agree with Rene. We barely even look at stop signs or walk signals when crossing the street. Montreal culture is in many ways communal, familial, fun, and joyful. That's great when it's great. It's not great right now. https://twitter.co…
If you haven't read it already, here is Apple's SVP of Retail and People, Deidre O'Brien, on the precautions Apple is taking in the places where they are re-opening Apple Stores: https://www.apple.com/...