Apple La Vaguada: this is how its inauguration went

Yesterday, Thursday, November 28, Apple opened the doors of its new store in the La Vaguada shopping center, in Madrid. After a decade without opening new Apple Stores in Spain, this event has marked a key moment. Beyond being a point of sale, Apple La Vaguada is a space to discover everything the company’s technology can do for us and to do it in the best possible way.

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The opening was quite an event and attracted people from diverse backgrounds who, more than six hours before the opening, were already gathering in front of the doors of the new store. A store, it must be said clearly, that hides much more than meets the eye.

A design that combines innovation and sustainability

From the moment we approach the store, its design catches the eye. Like all Apple stores, La Vaguada has been designed to elegantly integrate into the shopping center’s environment, yet stand out with its unmistakable style. Large glass panels, natural wood details, and an open atmosphere invite us to enter and explore. Without barriers, but with each area strategically placed, the entire space flows so that we feel comfortable while discovering new products or receiving technical support.

Just like in its products, Apple takes care of the sustainability of all its stores. The energy that powers Apple La Vaguada comes 100% from renewable sources, and the materials used, from the display tables to the decorative panels, are recyclable or have been sourced responsibly. The ceiling, made with sugar cane or the terrazzo floor, made with eco-friendly resin, is particularly noteworthy. Every detail in this store conveys Apple’s philosophy: technology must be useful and respectful to those of us who use it — hence its focus on privacy — and respectful of the environment.

A space to learn, together

Apple La Vaguada is not just a place to buy an iPhone, a Mac, or AirPods. It is, above all, a space designed to learn and connect. The store features an area where the popular Today at Apple sessions will be held. In these activities—free and open to everyone—we can learn to make the most of our devices, from mastering photography with the iPhone or discovering the best apps of 2024 to exploring the creative possibilities of an iPad.

Something not everyone knows? If a person arrives with headphones to a session, those headphones automatically connect to the session’s audio without any employee having to intervene. This is the level of detail that Apple ensures so that EVERYONE —I have to write it in uppercase— can enjoy the devices.

In the Genius Bar, there are two seating heights. People with reduced mobility who need a wheelchair can approach the counter with ease. The aisles, twice as wide as in the traditional configuration of an Apple Store, accommodate all customers, including those who need more space to move due to their condition.

There are details throughout the store that, while they may go unnoticed during a visit, do not escape the attention of those who need them. This includes the possibility of using sign language during any personalized shopping session—in which an employee will personally accompany us to choose the product that best suits us, resolve doubts, and, ultimately, shop with an expert by our side.

A simply grand opening

If you haven’t been to an Apple Store opening, the feeling is hard to explain. You wait in line for quite a while, and just when it seems like the doors are about to open, the employees come out to greet you with all their enthusiasm. When you enter, a human row of enthusiasm welcomes you and offers you the commemorative gift of the opening.

From there, you can only stand and look around. The joy of someone who has waited to buy an Apple product in the store on its first day is evident, while the employees are simply delighted to be part of a benchmark like an Apple Store. Everyone celebrates the day. You can ask a perfect stranger which iPhone they are considering or congratulate them on the Mac they just bought, the atmosphere invites everyone to enjoy together.

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The store filled up in minutes. The atmosphere was as vibrant, if not more, than what I remember years ago at the Puerta del Sol opening: simply Apple. Joy in all its splendor. A unique experience that marks a great beginning for the fifth Apple Store in the capital of Spain. A space that is much more than a store, and is waiting for our visit.