Apple said on April 9 that it will close its retail store in Towson, Maryland, the first U.S. location where retail staff voted to unionize in 2022. The company described the choice as "difficult," citing the departure of several retailers from the shopping center and deteriorating conditions at Towson Town Center mall as the principal reasons behind the planned closure.
According to Apple, employees at the Towson store will be eligible to apply for open positions at other Apple Retail locations. The company also indicated that it intends to close two additional mall-based stores - one at Trumbull Mall in Connecticut and another at North County Mall in California - while maintaining staffing in nearby Apple Retail stores so affected employees can continue in their roles.
The Towson site was notable in 2022 when more than 100 Apple workers there voted to join the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM). That vote marked a high-profile instance of unionization among retail employees at one of the country's largest technology firms.
In response to the closure announcement, the IAM said it was "outraged" and that it is exploring all legal options. The union also asserted that "Apple’s claim that the collective bargaining agreement prevents relocation is simply false and raises serious concerns that this closure is a cynical attempt to bust the union," framing the company decision as potentially aimed at undermining the unionized workforce.
The developments in Towson follow other contested labor episodes at major U.S. companies and reflect tensions between retail employers and organized labor in mall-based environments. Apple has tied the Towson decision explicitly to changing mall conditions and the loss of neighboring retailers rather than to any single internal staffing issue.
For employees at the affected locations, the company’s statement makes clear there will be an opportunity to seek roles at other retail outlets, while the IAM’s comment signals a likelihood of legal scrutiny over the rationale and timing of the closures.
Summary
Apple will close its Towson, Maryland store, the first U.S. Apple retail location to unionize in 2022. The company pointed to tenant departures and worsening mall conditions as the reasons for the closure and said employees may apply for other roles. The IAM union expressed outrage and said it is considering legal action. Apple also plans to close stores at Trumbull Mall in Connecticut and North County Mall in California, with affected staff able to continue work at nearby Apple stores.