new stockholm city council vows to block unpopular apple store plans

Friday, October 12, 2018, 08 41 am PT.   Apple's plans for its first store in Swedish of Stockholm may have been dealt fatal blow, as city council is promising to support residents opposed to proposed site...   At press conference, the council assured residents that the location, wo not go ahead, according to Dagens Nyheter.   The previous council had given Apple the green light..   but take up more space, and residents have complained that it would block Kungstradgarden's entrance and commercialize area often used for concerts and other events..   Apple has promised to hold its own park events, including performances, and this does not appear to have stopped flood of negative public comments..   Under retail head Angela Ahrendts, Apple has tried to position its shops as town squares — communal spaces where people can go for learning and entertainment through Today at Apple events.   That marketing has not gained much traction, and is sometimes mocked or criticized given Apple's overriding goal of selling hardware..   The company has sometimes been willing to back down in response to backlash.   In July, for example, Apple ditched pagoda-like store it had envisioned for Melbourne, Australia.   Read more