Apple has confirmed it is to shut a huge city centre store in a major blow to the high street. The tech giant has announced it will close a branch in Bristol city centre and there is no replacement in sight as of yet.
Apple Bristol will permanently close its doors forever on August 9 ahead of Quaker Friars redevelopment plans, with the shops along Philadelphia Street, where Apple is located, set to be transformed into “a multilevel arrangement of uses”. The plans call for a mix of residential buildings, medical facilities, restaurants, and more.
A planning application submitted by the Bristol Alliance Partnership includes proposals to replace the shops’ first floor areas “with a space that will suit new, flexible, future-proof uses, such as flexible workspaces and healthcare”.
A masterplan “designed to revitalise Quakers Friars” is described as “emphasising the preservation of architectural heritage, fostering diversity, happiness and resilience, and enhancing the quality of life through sustainable urban development”.
Philadelphia Street could soon be transformed into a “public realm environment with ‘urban rooms’ for rest, play and reflection”, “increasing vibrancy and variety to the activity on the street”.
However, shoppers are not convinced by the plans, with some feeling they have no reason “to ever” visit the place again.
Taking to social media one disgruntled shopper said: “No more reason ever to go there after that. How they have mismanaged that place.”
Spread over two floors Apple Bristol first opened in 2008, with the location formerly known as Apple Cabot Circus.
Another added: “I don’t understand what they trying to achieve. It will never be a going out area will it.”
“The site is so badly managed long term. Bristol is really bad at good longterm planning, sadly”, said a third.
The ground floor is used as a product sales area, while the upper level provides space for Genius Bar appointments and Today at Apple creative sessions.
The tech giant has two other stores in the surrounding areas, including Apple Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of Bristol, and Apple SouthGate in Bath.
