Apple has permanently closed its doors at the iconic Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian retail stores. Both closures took effect on January 20. Infinite Loop served as Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, from 1993 until 2017, when Apple Park opened nearby. The store on the campus is located at street level near the entrance to the main office building,
End of an era
Born as “The Company Store,” the Apple’s Infinite Loop store initially catered mainly to employees, offering Apple-branded merchandise alongside select hardware.In 2015, it transformed into a full-fledged retail store, but never sported the traditional Genius Bar seen elsewhere.
The arrival of the larger and more modern Apple Park Visitor Center in 2017 marked a turning point. With its café, rooftop terrace, and immersive AR model of Apple Park, the Visitor Center offered a superior experience. Coupled with the nearby Apple Valley Fair store, the Infinite Loop location simply became redundant. “After many years of serving customers at our stores in the Bay Area, we plan to close our store at Infinite Loop,” said Apple, in a statement shared last month.
Across the Pacific, Apple’s Royal Hawaiian store in Honolulu closed its doors after serving the island community for over 15 years. As part of its ongoing retail network optimization, Apple cited the presence of two other stores in Honolulu (Ala Moana and Kahala) as a factor in the decision. “Apple continuously evaluates its retail footprint to ensure it is in the best possible position to provide exceptional customer service and support for its customers,” the company reportedly said in a letter to Hawaii’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations last year.
While the closures signify the end of chapters for these stores, Apple remains committed to providing exceptional customer service. With 271 stores across the US and a brand new one in Seoul, South Korea, the company continues to innovate and reach customers where they are.