Apple has announced the closure of three Apple Store locations across the country, including the first unionized Apple store. The affected stores are in Towson, Maryland, Trumbull, Connecticut, and Escondido, California, with the closures scheduled for June 11, 2026.
The Towson store made headlines in 2022 for becoming the first Apple location in the U.S. to unionize. Apple stated that the decision to close these stores was a challenging one, driven by the departure of several retailers and deteriorating conditions in the malls where the stores are situated.
Following the closures, employees at the Trumbull and Escondido stores will be relocated to other Apple locations, but the 90 employees from the Towson store will need to apply for open positions within the company. Apple cited a collective bargaining agreement that prevents the direct transfer of Towson employees to other stores.
The closure of the Towson store has sparked allegations of anti-union behavior from the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and Aerospace Workers. The IAM Union expressed concern over the closure, suggesting that it may be an attempt to undermine the union. Legal action is being considered to address these concerns and hold Apple accountable for its actions.