Happy Birthday, Apple Retail

It was on this date in 2001 that Apple launched what was at the time a huge gamble: their first retail store opened in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. I was there. I wasn't in line for the opening, but despite arriving mid-afternoon, I still got a Tyson's Corner Apple Store t-shirt. Little did I know about a year later, I'd be working in an Apple retail store.

While there are many personal memories to share, and of course and analysis of the future plans for the stores in order, for now, let's just take a trip back, as Steve Jobs himself takes on tour of the Apple store just prior to opening. As a point of reference, bear in mind this all happened pre-iPod, in a far-off time where something called OS 9 ruled the Apple world, and OS X (beta) was just getting "lickable."

What a big boy/girl you are, iMac!

Aww! Someone had a tenth birthday today! Happy Birthday, iMac! Look at you! You lost all that G3 baby fat! You went through your skinny/awkward G4 phase (although a lot of people thought you were adorable then.) Then you got in shape as the G5 iMac.

What precious child! I'm just a little worried about this new, dark look you've taken on with Intel inside. I hope you're not growing up to fast. Some people have reported you've been acting up, and you've been a little hot-headed as of late.

Well at any rate, Happy Birthday, and we can't wait to see what the next few years hold. I worry about your teen years, but you've made it this far, outliving many of your siblings (R.I.P., G4 Cube) so here's to a bright future!