Apple Inc., a consumer electronics company, opened its first Apple store in Manhattan (103 Prince Street, in Soho) in 2002. Another Apple store was located in midtown Manhattan (Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets) in 2006. New York City’s “Big Apple” nickname predates the Apple stores—and even the founding of the company—by many decades, but some people still joke that the city is called the Big Apple because of its heavily trafficked Apple stores.
 
“Why is it called the Big Apple? Because of the big Apple store” was cited on Twitter on June 30, 2010. “Fun Fact; NY is called ‘the big apple’ bc it has the largest concentration of hipsters that line up for the new iPhone release annually” was cited on Twitter on September 28, 2014.
 
   
Wikipedia: Apple Store
The Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc., dealing with computers and consumer electronics. The stores sell Macintosh personal computers, software, iPods, iPads, iPhones, third-party accessories, and other consumer electronics such as Apple TV. All stores offer a Genius Bar for technical support and repairs, as well as free workshops available to the public, while some high-profile stores feature a theater for presentations and workshops and a studio for training with Apple products. Under the leadership of Ron Johnson, the former senior Vice President of Retail Operations, the Apple Stores have, according to an article in The New York Times, been responsible for “[turning] the boring computer sales floor into a sleek playroom filled with gadgets”.
     
Wired   
It’s a Big Big Apple Apple Store
Michelle Delio Email 07.18.02
(...)
Apple’s first Manhattan store is located in what used to be a post office, a turn-of-the-century, 18,000-square-foot space now furnished in steel and glass. The two-story space, dominated by a skylight and a large glass staircase, is the largest of Apple’s 32 stores.
(...)
The most popular product currently available was the limited edition Apple Soho T-shirts.
Apple’s Soho store is located at 103 Prince Street in Manhattan, at Greene Street.
 
New York (NY) Times
Apple, a Success at Stores, Bets Big on Fifth Avenue
By STEVE LOHR
Published: May 19, 2006
(...)
This evening, Apple is opening a showcase store in Manhattan that will burnish the company’s reputation for clever design. The entrance to the store, on Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets, is a glass cube, 32 feet on each side, with a suspended Apple logo inside. Customers walk down a circular staircase — or take a cylindrical glass elevator — to the 10,000-square-foot store below. The store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week — a first for Apple and an acknowledgment of New York’s status as a round-the-clock city.
     
The Geek Culture Forums
Topic: A New Name for the Apple Store Fifth Avenue
quantumfluff
posted May 19, 2006 07:08
It should be called “The Big Apple Store”.
 
Wikipedia: Talk:Big Apple
Apple Store
Maybe it’s just me, but I really don’t think a reference to Apple Stores has ANYTHING to do with this topic, and it totally out of place. Apple did not name it’s company or stores because they are in NYC. Their name came from the Apple that supposedly hit Newton in the head. Placing reference to the Apple store’s in this article certainly makes a great advertisement, almost like product placement, but offers no further insight into the Big Apple’s name. Anyway, I think it should be removed, and will do so in the future if it’s not removed or a reasonable explanation is given as to why it should be included. And those are my two cents. Brainscar 04:21, 8 July 2007 (UTC)
 
Twitter
Peter Serafinowicz
‏@serafinowicz
“@dedtweet Why is it called the Big Apple? #psqa” Because of the big Apple store
7:34 AM - 30 Jun 2010
   
Twitter
Nix
‏@nikruaya
Akala ko talaga nickname ng New York yung “Big Apple” kasi may malaking Apple Store dun… omg
4:32 AM - 23 Feb 2013
   
Twitter
Louis Trapani
‏@LouisTrapani
It was named after the big Apple store… No? ;o) » Why is New York City nicknamed the “Big Apple”? http://bit.ly/UBcvTV
7:53 AM - 30 Jul 2014
 
Twitter
Bro Jackson
‏@IslesNationBC
Fun Fact; NY is called “the big apple” bc it has the largest concentration of hipsters that line up for the new iPhone release annually
4:50 PM - 28 Sep 2014
 
Twitter
Boy Arianator, bruhh
‏@ArianatorsBae
Me: why is New York called the big apple?
Boca: idk it’s probably because of the big Apple store
LOOOOL
2:57 PM - 30 Sep 2014