Bronx elected officials are calling on Apple Incorporated, maker of the devices that many feel they cannot live without, to open a retail location in the borough.
Apple’s futuristic retail stores, complete with customer support for on-the-spot-troubleshooting, have opened in many places, but not in the borough.
Local elected officials here, including Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., recently signed a letter to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, urging the computing juggernaut that makes smart phones, tablet computers and laptops and desktops to consider the borough for an Apple retail location.
Apple is the largest company in the world in terms of market capitalization, the total amount of a company’s outstanding shares, according to published reports.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie penned his own letter to Apple, Inc. on the matter.
“Few brands are as recognized and admired as Apple,” stated the letter. “It is time for the Bronx to get its bite of the Apple!”
That letter points out that an Apple Store in the borough would be yet another signal that the Bronx is ‘open for business.’
“Tens of thousands of Bronx residents are already Apple customers, so a new Apple store right here in the Bronx would be a perfect fit for this borough,” stated Diaz. “I am hopeful that Apple will consider our request, as a Bronx location would be mutually beneficial not only to the company, but to the thousands of Bronxites who would take advantage of its services closer to home.”
Heastie stated that the having an Apple retail location in the borough would ensure that the borough’s growing population has access to Apple’s “world renowned products and services.”
“Over the past few years, the Bronx has seen billions of dollars in development and offers numerous potential retail locations for continued growth,” said Heastie. “A Bronx location would undoubtedly prove to be beneficial for both Apple and one and half million eager consumers here in the Bronx.”
Bronx Chamber of Commerce CEO Nunzio del Greco said that he was aware that the elected officials had reached out to Apple and supported the effort.
He said having an Apple store here would confer prestige on the borough.
Del Greco said that he sees many people using its devices, including iPhone and iPads.
“The demand is there; there is no question about it,” he said “It would be a good thing for the Bronx and it would be good publicity for Apple too – it wouldn’t hurt.”
Marlene Cintron, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation president, said she believes that it would simply make good business sense for Apple to site a retail store in the borough, and believes this has so far been a missed business opportunity for the borough.
“Businesses that come to the Bronx have been rewarded time and time again; we are a borough of 1.4 million people and we are the youngest borough out of the five,” said Cintron. “Who uses Apple products more than our demographic?”
An Apple spokeswoman did not comment, adding that the company does not discuss future plans
