Apple is pulling the plug on its Towson Town Center store this June, according to employees and union leaders, a move that will displace about 90 workers at the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States.
Staffers said they were told of the shutdown during a company call Thursday morning, a gut punch for a store that made national headlines when it voted to unionize in 2022. Union officials say they are already gearing up to support members through the transition.
The closure was first reported by The Baltimore Banner, which said the Towson location is among three Apple stores reportedly slated to close this year. The outlet also reported that workers learned of the decision on a company call and that the shop employs roughly 90 people.
Union contract and what workers won
Closing or not, Towson’s Apple staffers made history before the doors ever went dark. In August 2024, workers at the store ratified a three-year contract with Apple that included higher pay, stronger scheduling protections, and a disciplinary process with what union leaders described as protections and accountability, according to the pioneering contract.
The deal was widely seen as a potential blueprint for other Apple retail organizing campaigns, raising expectations across the tech retail world. Union negotiators now say that while the contract sets clear standards for pay and treatment, it does not lessen their obligation to push Apple for transparency and support as the shutdown looms.
Towson Town Center's recent troubles
The Apple exit is not happening in a vacuum. Towson Town Center has been watching big-name tenants pack up and leave, a trend that locals say has thinned out the mall’s once steady crowds.
Fox Business recently chronicled the departures of brands such as Banana Republic, Madewell, and Tommy Bahama, noting concerns from business leaders about safety and shifting shopper demand. Local reporting has documented a broader shakeup in the mall’s lineup, with several long-running tenants gone and retailers rethinking how Towson fits into the region’s shopping map.
Union reaction and next steps
Union leaders are not hiding their frustration.
“We are really disappointed in Apple’s decision, and we will be looking at every single option available to us to advocate for our members,” Kevin Gallagher of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said, according to The Baltimore Banner.
Gallagher said he could not disclose what was said on the company call but signaled that the union intends to press Apple for clear answers and concrete support for affected employees. Union officials have emphasized that they plan to explore every tool available to protect jobs, benefits, and working conditions for members as the closure date approaches.
What customers and staff should know
For now, Apple still lists the Towson Town Center store at 825 Dulaney Valley Road on its online directory. Customers can find hours and contact information on Apple's store page.
Shoppers with upcoming repairs or Genius Bar appointments are being urged to double-check their options online or through nearby Apple locations as June nears. Employees, meanwhile, say they will be demanding clarity on possible transfers, rehiring opportunities, and severance terms.
Local officials and labor advocates are expected to keep a close eye on how Apple and mall management handle the wind-down, watching both the worker fallout and what another dark storefront could mean for a mall already fighting to keep its footing.
