Revamped Apple Stores: The Return of the Genius Bar

Apple is gearing up for a significant redesign of its retail stores in the Ternus era, with plans for a widespread renovation that will bring some of its recent experimental designs into the mainstream. The changes include eliminating sprawling video walls and reintroducing dedicated Genius Bars.

The motivation behind these changes is not entirely clear, but according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is set to implement “three major changes” to its standard store designs. This will involve a shift towards more wood elements, particularly in the online pickup, Today at Apple, and Genius Bar areas. The new Genius Bars will feature an all-wood look, reminiscent of Apple’s earlier designs.

While specific locations for these changes have not been disclosed, Gurman mentions that some of these updates have already been seen in a few Apple stores. The Miami Worldcenter store, for example, showcases a more natural and environmentally friendly design with increased use of wood grain throughout.

Structurally, Apple plans to revamp the “Avenue” sections of its stores to create distinct areas for online pickups and Today at Apple sessions. This will involve setting up individual 10-foot “bays” with secure drawers for efficient order storage. The current setup will be replaced with oversized TVs at the top of the Today at Apple bay.

The return of dedicated Genius Bars is also on the cards, with these likely to replace the existing video walls. The placement of these bars may vary depending on the store layout but will be distinct from the side Avenue bays.

It is uncertain how quickly these changes will be rolled out, as Apple is unlikely to renovate all its stores simultaneously. Some stores may be renovated in place, while others could relocate to new spaces for construction.

Additionally, Apple is reportedly implementing stricter rules for employees during morning meetings and requiring all staff to applaud as the first customers enter each day.