Apple closes first store in China

Apple is scaling back operations in China at a time when iPhone sales there are struggling. Photo: Bloomberg .

The store, which is set to close on August 9, is located in the Parkland Mall in the Zhongshan District of Dalian, China. The announcement said the reason for the closure was due to a change in the “operational landscape” of the mall after a series of other retailers withdrew.

The company currently operates about 56 stores in China, accounting for more than 10% of its more than 530 stores globally, according to Bloomberg .

“We are dedicated to providing a great customer experience, both online and in our more than 50 Apple Stores across China. As many retailers have withdrawn from Parkland Mall, we have made the decision to close the store,” the statement said.

The closures come as China’s economy faces deflationary pressures, weakening consumer spending and exports hit by global tariffs. Retail sales have recently fallen short of expectations. Home prices continued to fall rapidly in June.

The store that is being shuttered is one of two Apple retail locations in Dalian, a city of 7.5 million people in northeastern China. The other is at the Olympia 66 shopping mall, less than 10 minutes away. That store remains open. The company said employees at the store will be reassigned to other locations.

While the decision to close Dalian partly reflects pressure in the billion-people market, Apple is still working to regain its position here. According to the financial report for the second quarter of 2025 ended March 29, sales in China fell 2.3% to $ 16 billion , lower than the $ 16.8 billion expected by analysts.

Meanwhile, the American giant continues to expand its stores in China. A new store will open at Uniwalk Qianhai in Shenzhen on August 16. Other new locations in Beijing and Shanghai are also planned for next year. Previously, in January, the group opened a store in Anhui province.

Outside of China, Apple is also expanding its global presence. A new store in Osaka, Japan, opened on July 26. A massive flagship store opened in Miami, USA in January. The company also opened its first store in Malaysia last year and plans to open more in Detroit, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and India.

However, since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, the pace of Apple's retail chain expansion has slowed significantly. Instead, the company has focused on expanding its online sales system in new markets such as India and Saudi Arabia, while upgrading or relocating old stores.

Along with opening new stores, Apple has been more selective when it comes to renewing leases. On the same day as announcing the closures in China, Apple also announced plans to close stores in Bristol, UK, Partridge Creek, Michigan, US, and Hornsby, near Sydney, Australia.

Not only Apple, many other big brands have also withdrawn from Parkland after the center was rebranded as Intime City and changed its management and operations unit. In recent years, brands such as Coach, Sandro and Hugo Boss have also not renewed their leases here, according to Bloomberg .

Source: https://znews.vn/apple-dong-cua-cua-hang-dau-tien-tai-trung-quoc-post1572471.html