Gwyneth K. Shaw Photo
Barnes & Noble outlet has vacated half its Broadway store in preparation for a new tenant — which could be a long-awaited retail outlet of a computer company named after a certain fruit.
Barnes & Noble cleared out the east wing of its store. Yale University Properties, the landlord, has begun making renovations and shopping the 4,000-square-foot to potential tenants.
After representatives of Apple were spotted touring the premises over the past month, speculation grew that that’s who might move in. The visit was confirmed by two people with knowledge of it.
Yale real estate officials would neither confirm nor deny the existence of negotiations with the company.
“Because we talk with many prospects before we lease any particular space, and because too many deals that may look like possibilities at one point never get done, we do not announce tenants before a deal is signed and the merchant wants to publicize its intentions,” stated University Vice-President Bruce Alexander.
Yale informed the city several weeks ago that it was redoing the space as a “white box” in anticipation of a new tenant, said Building Official Andy Rizzo. “It was preliminary. They didn’t say who the tenant would be.”
It’s no secret that the city business community has been hoping to lure Apple here. In October 2008, civic boosters even organized a please-come-to-New Haven soiree in Apple’s honor, complete with appletinis and fresh green apples. (Read about that here.) Given New Haven’s academic and new-media presence, Macs are in high demand here. But the closest Apple outlet stores are way up in the West Hartford hinterlands to the north and down in sterile corporate Stamford to the south. Apple owners need to hit the highway and drive 30 – 40 minutes to the closest authorized dealers to get repairs.
City development chief Kelly Murphy said she had no information beyond hearing the rumors that have been circulating around town about the Apple visit.
She said it’s “no secret” the city and Yale have been trying for years to lure Apple here. “Getting them here is a start,” she said. “It would be a good fit.”
Apple did not return a request for comment.
