Apple closes – Apple is permanently closing three retail stores—North County in California, Trumbull in Connecticut, and Towson Town Center in Maryland—on June 20. The moves cite declining conditions and retailer departures, but the Towson closure has sparked a union complai
On June 20. three Apple retail stores will stop operating permanently—North County in California. Trumbull in Connecticut. and Towson Town Center in Maryland. The countdown is on. and for the workers at one location. it isn’t just about the shutters going up; it’s about what comes next. and who gets protected.
Apple confirmed the closures earlier this year and tied them to what it described as the departure of several retailers and declining conditions where the stores are located. The company said in April that it blamed those local changes for the decisions. and it later updated the details for each affected store with the same closure date: June 20.
The affected stores are: Apple North County retail store at the Shops at North County. 272 E Via Rancho Parkway. Escondido 92025; Apple Trumbull retail store at Trumbull Mall. 5065 Main Street. Trumbull 06611; and Apple Towson Town Center retail store at Towson Town Center. 825 Dulaney Valley Road. Towson 21204.
In April, Apple told MacRumors that employees at the Trumbull and North County locations would continue their roles at nearby Apple stores. For Towson, though, the story has turned sharper—because the store made history in 2022 by forming the first union for an Apple retail store.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents the employees at Towson, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in late April. The union accused Apple of discriminating and retaliating against employees because of their union membership.
Apple’s position is anchored in the collective bargaining agreement. The company told Reuters in April. and it confirmed to Fast Company on Friday. that the agreement specifies that if Apple closes a store. it will transfer or rehire employees if Apple opens a new store within 50 miles of Towson’s current location. In that scenario, the employees would be given the right of first refusal if that happened within the next 18 months. In any other circumstance, Apple said, the union negotiated for severance.
Still, the Towson dispute escalated further this week. On Thursday. 54 members of the Congressional Labor Caucus sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board demanding an investigation into Apple. They said they were “alarmed” that the company isn’t making attempts to relocate some of the affected workers.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Fast Company about the letter from the congressional members. But the company did provide a statement addressing the initial union claims. “We strongly disagree with the claims made. and we will continue to abide by the agreement that was negotiated and agreed with the union. ” Apple said. adding. “We look forward to presenting all of the facts to the NLRB.”.
With the NLRB carrying a backlog of cases, the union’s complaint may not be addressed before Apple carries out the June 20 closures.
Apple’s retail footprint is large enough to absorb setbacks. Since opening its first retail locations 25 years ago. the company has steadily expanded. even as it has shuttered stores in the past. The latest closures don’t meaningfully shrink the broader operation: Apple’s retail empire includes more than 250 locations in 42 states. plus hundreds more in dozens of countries.
For investors, the news also hasn’t landed like a crisis. Shares of Apple (NYSE: AAPL) rose about 0.7% in mid-day trading on Friday, bucking a broader slump in the U.S. stock market.
But the practical clock now runs from corporate decisions to storefront dates, and from store dates to job security. For workers at Towson Town Center, June 20 will arrive while legal questions at the NLRB are still unresolved—and while lawmakers press Apple to do more than point to the contract.
Apple store closures June 20 Apple retail Towson Town Center Trumbull Mall Shops at North County NLRB complaint labor union International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Congressional Labor Caucus collective bargaining agreement AAPL stock
So they’re shutting stores but “declining conditions” ok sure.
If they moved workers to nearby stores, why are people acting like it’s some huge conspiracy? But also… union stuff always gets weird with Apple. Like it’s never just business, right?
Wait I thought the Towson store got closed because it was failing or whatever. But now it sounds like it’s retaliation for the union? NLRB is gonna take forever though so meanwhile those people are just outta luck. Makes you wonder if “employment continuing” means like 1 person gets shifted and the rest just get told to reapply.
Apple really can’t just be normal. They blame retailer departures like that’s not their choice? Trumbull and North County too?? Feels like they picked the union one on purpose and then slapped “declining conditions” on everything. Also I don’t get how they can say the workers continue roles but it’s permanent closure, like permanent for customers but not for staff? Sounds messy.