Apple to Open New Idaho Store Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro Launch This September

Apple is preparing to open a new retail location in Idaho, with plans to launch the store in time for the iPhone 18 Pro release this September. The new store will be located at The Village at Meridian, an outdoor shopping complex near Boise, and will span 10,000 square feet, according to building permits reviewed by BoiseDev.

The company currently operates only one other store in Idaho, situated at the Boise Towne Square shopping mall. A tipster claimed that Apple is targeting the September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro as the opening date for the new location, though the company has not officially confirmed the timeline.

Meanwhile, Apple is also updating its store at the Apple Park Visitor Center in Cupertino, California. A notice posted on Apple's website indicates an "update in progress" at the facility. The building remains open to the public during the renovation, but the area featuring a 3D augmented reality model of Apple Park is temporarily closed. "Please pardon our appearance while we improve our store," Apple wrote in the notice.

In addition to physical store updates, Apple's privacy policy for the Apple Store app suggests the company is preparing to introduce a virtual shopping assistant. The feature would allow users to engage in a chat interface to ask questions about Apple products. According to the policy, Apple plans to use various data points, including account information, device identifiers, chat history, carrier information, and location data, to deliver a personalized shopping experience. The move indicates Apple is expanding its digital retail capabilities to complement its physical store network.