Apple Planning Huge New Retail Store in the Heart of Madrid?

tio pepe madrid
Spanish newspaper El Pais reports [Google translation] that the mayor of Madrid has announced that Apple will occupy the entirety of a landmark building in the center of the city on the Puerta del Sol, snapping up 6,000 square meters (~65,000 square feet) of space. The building, famous for its large neon sign advertising popular sherry brand Tio Pepe that has temporarily been removed for restoration during the building's renovation, includes seven floors plus a basement and was built in 1863.

Apple's interest in the building is not new, but previous reports had suggested that Apple would occupy only the lower one or two floors with earlier hotel uses being maintained on the upper floors. Today's announcement reveals, however, that Apple, the building's owners, and the city have come together to forge an agreement that will see Apple taking the entire space.

It is unlikely that Apple will devote the entire seven floors to retail store space, presumably using some of the upper floors for office space to support the company's operations in the region, so it is currently unknown just how large the retail space will be. Apple's largest stores currently check in at up to around 25,000 square feet. Restoration work on the building is scheduled to wrap up by October or November of this year, with the Apple retail store opening at an unannounced date after that time.

Apple currently operates two retail stores in Spain, with one of them being a typical mall-based store located on the outskirts of Madrid.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

javi.mahai Avatar
187 months ago
I am even more surprised to see Apple considering the opening of a store in Spain, one of the world champions of unemployment and recession - there are surely many other areas in a number of developed and emerging markets with MUCH higher purchasing power...Spain is not one of them.

Spain has also one of the 12 largest economies in the world. And yes, their economy is in a recession. But I guess Apple should have also frozen their store openings in the USA since we also are going through a recession and are going through a relatively high (historically) unemployment rate.

Recessions and economic downturns are a great time for corporations with cash to expand and increase market share/presence. Among other things, because property and assets are much cheaper than when the economy is booming. If the Spanish economy was going at full speed now, that place in the center of madrid would cost orders of magnitude more. As it is, Apple is getting a great real estate deal, in the center of one of Wester Europe's largest cities.


p.s.: No offense, I love visiting Madrid - but it was more of a question on the best places for prospective Apple Stores...

Yawn, these "no offense, I have nothing against (insert minority name here), I have a friend who is (minority name), I just don't want a (minority name) dating my daughter" arguments are such a predictable chickeshit way of trying to get away with BS.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NebulaClash Avatar
187 months ago
Ole! And I don't mean Object Linking and Embeddding.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kaibelf Avatar
187 months ago
Apple has only a handful of retail outlets in major European cities, and each one is usually in a particularly historic and beautiful building, which they go to great lengths to maintain aesthetically. The Paris store, for example, is unlike any of the mall-like stores that you may find in an American suburb. That in itself makes it a big event. Huge store, special location.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
potatis Avatar
187 months ago
why not transform Valley of the Fallen to an Apple retail store?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Darth.Titan Avatar
187 months ago
I do not believe that Tio Pepe will be returning...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coder12 Avatar
187 months ago
Me gusta! :cool:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)