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CNBC AI News, August 10th – Apple has shuttered its Apple Store in Dalian’s Parkson Centennial Shopping Center, marking the tech giant’s first ever closure of a directly-operated retail location in China. The doors officially closed at 8 PM on August 9th.
The Dalian store, which opened on October 24, 2015, was the first Apple retail outlet in Dalian and the second in Liaoning Province.
Footage circulating online shows Apple Store staff and loyal customers gathering for a closing ceremony on the final evening, bidding farewell to the store after a decade of operation. This closure breaks Apple’s otherwise steady expansion in the critical Chinese market.
Comments from netizens reflected the bittersweet occasion: “Opened with applause, closed with applause.” Another wrote, “Such a sense of ritual, this is what you call humanity!” And yet another: “I still remember picking up my first iPhone at the Parkson Centennial store.”
In a statement, Apple cited the exodus of multiple retailers from the Parkson Centennial Shopping Center as the reason for the closure. The company emphasized: “All outstanding team members from this store will have the opportunity to continue their roles at Apple.” This suggests a consolidation strategy rather than a broad retreat from the Chinese market, where Apple continues to invest heavily.
Adding another layer to the story, sources familiar with the situation revealed that Parkson Centennial Shopping Center has been grappling with significant financial difficulties, facing legal challenges since 2022. By February 2025, the major shareholder had reportedly taken full control of leasing and operational management. This raises questions about the strategic alignment of Apple retail locations with the long-term viability of their host shopping centers.
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