CNBC AI News, July 27 – Apple is streamlining its retail footprint in China. According to the tech giant’s Chinese website, the Apple Store in Dalian’s Centennial City will cease operations on August 9, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time.
The Dalian store, which opened on October 24, 2015, holds the distinction of being Dalian’s first and Liaoning province’s second official Apple retail location. The closure marks the end of nearly a decade of operation in the northeastern port city.
Apple has yet to release an official statement detailing the reasons behind the closure or any subsequent plans for the Dalian market. Analysts suggest several factors could be at play, including evolving consumer behavior and strategic realignment within China’s competitive retail landscape.
Speculation on Chinese social media points to declining foot traffic in the Centennial City shopping center as a potential contributing factor, with some users noting the departure of other major brands in recent years. This could indicate broader economic headwinds affecting brick-and-mortar retail in certain regions of China.
Interestingly, the Dalian closure coincides with Apple’s expansion elsewhere in China. On August 16, the company is slated to open a brand-new Apple Store in Shenzhen’s Qianhai One Avenue. This will be Shenzhen’s third Apple retail location, joining existing stores in MixC Shenzhen Bay and Holiday Plaza. The opening signifies Apple’s continued commitment to the Pearl River Delta region, a key economic hub in southern China.
As is customary with new Apple Store openings, customers can likely anticipate receiving a unique commemorative gift on the inaugural day, highlighting the company’s brand engagement strategy.
Currently, Apple operates 49 Apple Stores across China (including the upcoming Qianhai One Avenue location). These are strategically located in major cities including Shanghai, Tianjin, Zhengzhou (Henan), Ningbo (Zhejiang), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), Wenzhou (Zhejiang), Jinan (Shandong), Qingdao (Shandong), Guangzhou (Guangdong), Shenzhen (Guangdong), Wuhan (Hubei), Changsha (Hunan), Kunming (Yunnan), Xiamen (Fujian), Fuzhou (Fujian), Dalian (Liaoning), Shenyang (Liaoning), Nanjing (Jiangsu), Wuxi (Jiangsu), Suzhou (Jiangsu), Chengdu (Sichuan), Chongqing, and Beijing. The distribution highlights Apple’s focus on reaching a broad spectrum of Chinese consumers.
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