Apple's Grand Central Terminal Store Preparing for 10AM Opening on Friday

Apple today posted its official Grand Central retail store page, formally announcing the 10:00 AM grand opening scheduled for this Friday, December 9th. The store's normal hours will include an early opening time of 7:00 AM on weekdays in order to accommodate commuters passing through the terminal.

One MacRumors reader has passed along a few recent photos of the interior of the store, showing that Apple is still putting the finishing touches on the store's buildout including the typical wood tables that will allow customers to test out Apple's products. One photo in particular shows a close-up view of the store's Genius Bar, revealing the clear glass wall behind the bar that will provide customers will a relatively unobstructed view of the terminal's stone walls behind.

Apple is paying approximately $1.1 million per year in rent for the large space, well below market rates for retail space in the terminal and the broader Manhattan real estate market. The State of New York is investigating the deal's terms, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority insists that it received the best possible terms for a difficult space.