Apple Revamps Stores: Ditching Ahrendts-Era Design for Traditional Retail Focus

September 13, 2026
Apple Revamps Stores: Ditching Ahrendts-Era Design for Traditional Retail Focus
  • Apple is rolling out a three-pronged store revamp as part of an accelerated renovation program, aiming to shift away from the Angela Ahrendts-era design toward a more traditional retail and service-focused experience.

  • The redesign rewrites Avenue layouts to prioritize online order pickups and Today at Apple sessions, while moving away from large video walls to a more conventional retail feel.

  • Two additional Avenue changes relocate pickup activities to the store sides within 10-foot bays and create a dedicated Today at Apple bay with a prominent display and secure device storage.

  • The article invites reader engagement and cites Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter as the source, dated September 13, 2026.

  • The shifts reflect a broader move from a community-focused, experiential design to a traditional retail and service-driven model.

  • Beyond stores, Apple is developing gaming controllers for the iPhone under the Beats brand to compete in mobile gaming accessories, a project active for more than a year.

  • Overall goal is to realign stores to emphasize traditional retail, service, and fulfillment functions rather than oversized video displays or experiential layouts.

  • Tests of the redesigned formats are already underway internationally, with a multi-year rollout planned for renovated and newly opened stores.

  • New and renovated locations will feature all-wood Genius Bars with accessible counter heights, integrated storage, upgraded back-of-house areas, and better employee break rooms.

  • A third change brings back dedicated Genius Bars, replacing the former Genius Grove; the new setup includes an all-wood aesthetic, two counter heights for accessibility, behind-wall storage drawers, and prominent product posters.

Summary based on 2 sources


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