or decades Vancouver Mac-heads have been desperately awaiting the arrival of their own personal Apple store. Sure, you can buy Apple products all over the city, but nothing quite compares to walking into a Mac-Mecca and worshiping at the foot of Steve Jobs. Fortunately, that wait is decreasing by the day. If you’ve wandered through the Pacific Centre Mall lately, you’ve probably noticed that a construction block has gone up marked with the glossy and distinctive Apple logo that we all know and love. It’s coming…prepare thyself.

Speculation about the construction of an Apple store in Vancouver has been circulating on the internet since Apple senior-vice president suggested that one could be coming last May. It had been thought that the Gastown would be chosen as a location until the hoarding went up in the Pacific Centre in March. Photos started popping up on various Apple fansites almost immediately and the excitement is building.

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that an Apple store is finally opening its doors in Vancouver. The Apple empire has been expanding exponentially since the Ipod took the world by storm and the company has full intentions of continually increasing the retail network. At the moment Apple only has 170 locations worldwide, but they plan to start adding 40 new outlets annually. Vancouver is one of the first cities to be targeted for this mass expansion.

Once open, the store should be one of the most profitable electronics retailers in town. Studies have shown that Apple stores do remarkable business. According to a report by the Berstein Research group, Apple stores reach sales of $4,032 (US) per square foot annually. This is four times better than Best Buy’s $930, and even tops Tiffany & Co. outlets, which ring up $2,666 per square foot annually. The Apple Store is sure to be one of the most popular stops in the Pacific Centre Mall after the grand opening in May, so it’s time to smash your old Ipod, Macbook, and IPhone. It’ll give you a good excuse to pick up new ones this summer…