An Apple Store for the Louvre

Apple fanatics (yes, I'm talking about you, David) can't wait for the first "real" Apple Store to open in Paris. For the moment, only FNAC has Apple stores as part of their stores, but apparently this isn't enough. For years the shop was rumored to be opening on the Champs-Elysées, but according to this article in ifo Apple Store, Jasmine Khounnala, Apple’s Paris-based public relations manager, confirmed that a store will open in the Carrousel du Louvre.

As first reported by LaTribune.fr and explained by MacGeneration.com and MacPlus.net, Apple will occupy about 7,770 square-feet formerly occupied by the Lalique and Résonnance stores.

I'm a big fan of the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground shopping gallery connected to the Louvre Museum, because it's open seven days a week -- a rarity in Paris -- and is directly accessible from the metro (station "Palais-Royal-Musée-du-Louvre"). It also has a Virgin megastore, regional tourism office, restrooms, foodcourt, ATM machines, and direct entrance to the museum without waiting in line outside the Pyramid (handy when it's cold or raining). Of course, not being an owner of any Apple products, I probably won't be visiting the new store (opening "sometime in 2009") unless it's to pry David away for a hot chocolate break. ;)