Michigan legislators are urging Apple Inc. to rethink its plan to shut down its retail store at Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township, expressing deep disappointment and calling the move a turn away from a region they describe as a growing community and economic powerhouse in southeast Michigan. According to a statement posted by State Representative Joseph Aragona on Facebook, the bipartisan effort includes Senators and Representatives from Macomb County who have sent a letter to Apple's corporate leadership. They are appealing for the company to keep the Partridge Creek location open and maintain their commitment to the community.
In a note on its website, Apple confirmed that the Partridge Creek store is set to close on Saturday, a decision made public last month. Despite this, the tech giant seems to actively expand elsewhere, having announced a new store opening in downtown Detroit. As 16 state representatives and senators signed and sent the letter to Apple, they highlighted the sustained population growth in the area, which has risen from 841,350 residents in 2010 to over 875,000, as reported by CBS News Detroit. Lawmakers emphasized this growth while requesting that Apple reconsider its planned store closure.
The Apple store has been a staple in Partridge Creek Mall since 2007, and its closure is timed with the company's decision not to renew its lease, coinciding with a new store's launch in downtown Detroit near the Shinola Hotel. The move has spurred reactions from local shoppers as well. "I don't know how the mall will survive without the Apple store," mentioned customer Saif Shaya in an interview with CBS News Detroit. Patricia Grant, another customer, lamented the inconvenience she anticipates, saying, "I do carry an Apple phone and this is the closest Apple store to me, so I’m sure in the future I’ll be cursing the fact it’s closing."
Aside from the downtown Detroit location, Apple maintains that customers in Macomb County will still have access to support and services at other Metro Detroit stores, including the Somerset Collection location in Troy, as well as through the company's website and Apple Store app. As mentioned by ClickOnDetroit, the lawmakers' letter further pointed out that since its opening, Partridge Creek Mall has continued to evolve and serve the community, with Apple being one of its first tenants. Their argument suggests that the presence of the store has been integral to the local commerce and community structure.
