Cover image via AppleLast Saturday was a monumental day for Apple devotees in Singapore – it was the official opening of Apple's first retail store in the country, also marking the first Apple Store in Southeast Asia
Image via Apple
The store is the latest of Apple's next-generation retail stores, featuring design elements like a large all-glass front, open spaces, tree planters, and custom wood furniture.
Located at the affluent Orchard Road, the store – easily distinguished by its iconic glass panels – is expected to be one of the most popular Apple stores in the world according to the US tech giant
Image via Yahoo
Image via Mac Rumours
News of the store's opening first broke in [October 2015](http://mothership.sg/2015/10/fitness-chain-pure-fitness-announces-apples-first-ever-official-spore-store-location/), when tenants said they were moving to make room for the store. It was expected to open last year, but due to construction delays, the launch was postponed.
The state-of-the-art two-story outlet features design elements inspired by the new Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino
Twin curved Castagna stone staircases are the architectural highlight of Apple Orchard Road.
Image via Apple
Customers can buy Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, iMac and accessories such as phone cases on the first level.
The second level is home to a space for free hands-on sessions such as iPhone photography.
The Forum is home to "Today at Apple," new in-store programming that includes 60 free, hands-on sessions.
Image via Apple
Image via Apple
As expected, fans – more than 200 of them – started queuing around the outlet from as early as 5pm on the day before
Image via Yahoo
According to [The Straits Times](http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/apple-store-opens-at-orchard-road-to-eager-crowd), the first in line was a Chinese national who had flown in from Macau.
"I am very happy and excited to be part of this. I have participated in the official store openings in Macau, Guangzhou and Nanjing," he said.
Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of Retail, was also present to welcome customers.
In an interview with [MacRumours](http://i.imgur.com/FrKgtF5.jpg), Ahrendts hopes that the next generation will refer to Apple as a meeting spot similar to a cafe like Starbucks.
Image via Apple
Image via Apple
Be sure to drop by Apple Orchard Road next time you're in Singapore!
Image via The Indian Express
**Apple Orchard Road**
Address: 270, Orchard Road, Singapore 238857
Tel. No.: 1800 699 2824
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 10.00pm
