Apple’s Big New Store in Beijing Opens Amid Some Serious Shade from William Barr
Apple just dropped a shiny new megastore in Beijing’s swanky Sanlitun district on July 17, 2020, and it’s kind of a big deal. This isn’t just any store—it’s a massive upgrade from the original one that’s been there since 2008, back when Apple was still figuring out how to charm China. The new spot is twice as big, with a sleek design, a staff that’s ballooned from 52 to 185, and some eco-friendly cred thanks to Apple’s first integrated solar array in a Chinese retail store. Over the past 12 years, the old store welcomed a jaw-dropping 22 million visitors, so you can bet this new one’s ready to handle some serious foot traffic.
But here’s the tea: the grand opening happened right as then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr was throwing some major shade at Apple. In a speech just a day earlier, Barr called out Apple and other U.S. tech giants for being way too cozy with the Chinese government. He didn’t hold back, accusing them of bending over backward to please Beijing. Specifically, he pointed to Apple yanking apps like the Quartz news app and VPNs from its Chinese App Store because the government said so. Remember the Hong Kong protests? Barr brought up how Apple pulled an app that helped protesters track police movements, all to keep China happy. He also raised eyebrows about Apple moving some iCloud data to Chinese servers, hinting it could give the government a sneaky way to snoop on users.
Now, let’s be real—China’s a huge deal for Apple. It’s not just where most iPhones are made; it’s also a massive market for sales and App Store revenue. But that dependence comes with baggage. Local heavyweights like Huawei are eating Apple’s lunch, with Counterpoint Research saying Apple’s got about 10% of China’s smartphone market, putting it in fifth place. Ouch. So, opening a flashy new store is Apple doubling down on its love affair with China, even as things get messy.
The U.S.-China relationship? Yeah, it’s been a rollercoaster, and Apple’s stuck in the middle. Barr’s comments are part of a bigger vibe—Washington’s been cracking down on Chinese tech like Huawei and TikTok, while China’s not exactly rolling out the red carpet for American companies either. For Apple, it’s a tightrope walk: keep the Chinese market happy without looking like they’re selling out to Beijing’s demands, all while dodging flak from folks like Barr back home.
This Sanlitun store is more than just a retail flex—it’s a statement. Apple’s saying, “We’re here, we’re growing, and we’re not going anywhere,” even as the geopolitical drama swirls. Whether it’s the solar panels or the bigger staff, the store screams ambition. But with Huawei breathing down its neck and critics like Barr calling them out, Apple’s got to play this game carefully. One thing’s for sure: all eyes are on how they navigate this high-stakes balancing act.
