IT observer - Make Money Online, SEO

There must be a logic that Apple is using that just seems to pass me in the dark. They are looking to purchase a building in the Boston’s historic Back Bay at the end where there is more turn over than pancakes at an iHop. Where there have been so many high profile flagship stores of major brands and every single one has closed—oh wait, I think Patagonia still has a store a few blocks away. Where there is a convention center across the street that everyone hates to go to because there is no parking. Where there is one of the busiest fire stations in the city a couple hundred yards up the one way street (coming down and past the location). Where the street gets totally shut down for so many special events like the Boston Marathon. Where the “T” and “Pike” travel beneath the building and street but the location is exactly between to “T” stops and you would have to walk to the station or take a bus (one does stop out front). The point is there is no parking.

So, they want to tear down an old building that fits in with the rest of the Back Bay and put in a glistening new modern building there. Um, ok I have to disagree on this one. Watch how anal we can get about our architecture and sense of place. Why do you think Fenway Park is still standing just up the street?

For those not in the know, the Back Bay used to be just that, a bay. It is a majority of land fill. There is also more history in a square foot then there is in a square mile in most places.

Sure, there are students at Berklee College of Music up a few blocks and the school did sponsor the conferences the last few years in Boston but these kids don’t have money and have two Apple store’s already that they can get to in a matter of minutes if they try. Oh, and there is the BAC around the corner but their own bookstore didn’t even survive.

I’m even more mystified that they have not announced a store in the “Golden Triangle”. They must be interested in the new extension to the Natick Mall or ideally the free standing site left by the Disney Store. They could retro fit that store, have parking, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream all in one place. Also, do it right on the front doorstep of the Bose Corp.

I think I read something about Springfield, MA too. There is another challenging location. The city is a tough one. Hard to keep business alive there. Maybe just north but still a depressed area. Heck of a St. Patrick’s Day Parade and air show at the base. There is UMass even further north and Hartford, CT to the south but I’m just not seeing something here. Then again, if they are talking the small stores then these might work but if they are talking big stores, I have my doubts.