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Apple Accelerates Store Redesign to Bring Back Genius Bars

The reported plan signals a move from large community-style layouts to service-led stores that prioritize renovations over fast geographic expansion.

Overview

  • Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman wrote Sunday that Apple will speed a tested retail overhaul into a wider rollout over the next several years, with reporting corroborated by trade outlets.
  • One visible change will be the removal of large video walls in many locations and the reintroduction of dedicated, all-wood Genius Bars fitted with two counter heights for accessibility and behind-the-counter storage.
  • Stores will get two new wood-built 'Avenue' bays along their sides: one with secure drawers and a handoff table for online pickups and another set up for Today at Apple sessions with a display, instructor table, and stools.
  • The company plans to slow rapid store expansion and instead prioritize renovating existing outlets worldwide, a shift that will require phased rollouts across more than 530 global locations.
  • The revamp also includes updated back-of-house spaces and reported changes to staff routines, reflecting a broader strategic shift away from the Angela Ahrendts-era community format toward practical service, support, and fulfillment in stores.