Apple says these malls got so bad it’s leaving

The countdown is on for Apple’s devoted flock: Later this month, the tech giant will permanently close three stores in California, Connecticut and Maryland. The Cupertino, California-based company confirmed the store closures back in April, blaming “the departure of several retailers and declining conditions” where they are located, as the company said in a statement to MacRumors. More recently, it updated the details for each of the affected stores, citing the same closure date for each of June 20. The affected stores are: California: Apple North County retail store at the Shops at North County, 272 E Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido 92025 Connecticut: Apple Trumbull retail store at Trumbull Mall, 5065 Main Street, Trumbull 06611 Maryland: Apple Towson Town Center retail store at Towson Town Center, 825 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson 21204 In April, the iPhone maker told MacRumors that employees at the Trumbull and North County locations would continue their roles at nearby Apple stores. What’s happening with the employees at the Towson location has proven to be far more contentious. TUSSLE WITH TOWSON UNION Apple initially said that employees at the Towson location would be eligible to apply for open roles within the company in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement, as that store made history by forming the first union for an Apple retail store in 2022. Later that month, however, the union representing the employees fired back. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents the employees, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in late April accusing the company of discriminating and retaliating against these employees because of their union membership. Apple told Reuters at the time—and confirmed to Fast Company on Friday—that the collective bargaining agreement specified that in the event of a store closure, it would transfer or rehire employees if Apple opened a new store within 50 miles of Towson’s current location and these employees would be given the right of first refusal if that happened within the next 18 months. In any other circumstance, the company said, the union negotiated for severance. But there’s more political heat on Apple this week. On Thursday, the 54 members of the Congressional Labor Caucus sent a letter to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) demanding an investigation into Apple and said they were “alarmed” that the company isn’t making attempts to relocate some of the affected workers. While Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment from Fast Company regarding the letter from Congress members, it did provide a statement regarding 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 in a statement to Fast Company. “We look forward to presenting all of the facts to the NLRB.” Given a backlog of cases at the NLRB, the union’s complaints may not be addressed prior to the store’s planned closure later this month. NO BITE OUT OF APPLE Since opening its first retail locations 25 years ago, Apple has steadily been expanding its retail presence, though it has occasionally shuttered stores in the past. Still, the latest closures hardly take a bite out of its store empire that includes more than 250 locations in 42 states, plus hundreds more in dozens of countries. What’s more, investors have barely flinched at any hint of not-great news about the company in recent years—including this week. 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.