蘋果公司宣布即將關閉其位於中國遼寧省大連市的Apple Store百年城店，引發極大關注。這間門市將於2025年8月9日晚上20:00正式停止營業，成為蘋果在中國大陸市場首度關閉的直營零售店，打破其多年來「只開不關」的市場擴張傳統，被外界視為一個具有象徵意義的事件。

這間位於大連百年城購物中心的Apple Store開業於2015年10月24日，是蘋果進入遼寧省的重要據點之一，也是當地果粉記憶中的一部分。在過去將近十年中，它不僅是銷售產品的場所，更是體驗蘋果生態與品牌文化的線下窗口。作為蘋果在中國早期拓展策略中的一環，百年城店的設立代表著品牌對中國東北市場的重視與信心。如今，它的關閉不僅是一家門店的終結，更象徵著整體零售格局正在發生深層變化。

蘋果在官方聲明中指出，關店決定與其在中國市場的整體策略無關，而是受限於當地商圈的整體環境惡化。百年城購物中心在近年內出現明顯的經營困境，自 2022 年以來，大股東發生變動後，場內多個國際品牌如 Coach、Kenzo、MCM、UGG 等陸續撤離，顯示出商場吸引力與經營實力雙雙下滑。為應對衰退，百年城甚至在2024年初改名為「銀泰城」，試圖藉由品牌重塑來扭轉形象與吸引力，但顯然未見成效。即便蘋果作為最後一批仍堅守的國際品牌之一，也最終選擇離開。

這次關店事件之所以引發廣泛討論，部分原因在於蘋果在中國市場的象徵地位。過去十多年來，蘋果一直將中國視為全球最重要的戰略市場之一，其在中國的直營店佈局也十分穩健。大眾對蘋果零售店的印象一直是精緻、繁忙且具備品牌引導力的空間，而非關店潮中的犧牲者。因此，這次行動被部分外界解讀為蘋果在中國市場可能面臨挑戰的信號，不過從蘋果本身的說法來看，它更傾向於是一種「被動撤退」，而非整體市場戰略的轉向。

此外，該事件也映射出實體零售的長期壓力。在數位化與電商平台持續壯大的情況下，線下零售的流量優勢正在被侵蝕，即便是擁有強大品牌吸引力的蘋果，也難以獨自支撐一整座商場的人流與營收。百年城店的關閉因此也被看作是整體實體零售模式「轉型困境」的縮影。即使有強大品牌背書，若整體商圈缺乏足夠的配套與流量支持，單一品牌也難以逆勢而行。

綜合而言，Apple Store大連百年城店的關閉雖然是個體事件，卻具有多層意義：它揭示中國城市中部分商圈面臨的結構性困境，也折射出全球品牌在當前宏觀經濟與消費環境下的謹慎調整策略。雖然蘋果強調這不代表其縮減中國市場，但隨著線上消費的日益普及與城市商業格局的變動，未來的蘋果零售策略或將更多聚焦於高潛力核心地段與線上線下融合的新模式。對於消費者而言，這是地理與文化記憶的轉移；對於市場而言，則是品牌與空間的再平衡。

On July 29, 2025, Apple quietly updated its official China website to announce that the Apple Store located in Dalian’s Parkland Mall will officially cease operations at 8:00 p.m. on August 9. This seemingly routine closure has triggered widespread public attention, as it marks the first time Apple has ever shut down a retail store in mainland China, breaking its long-standing pattern of only opening new stores without closing any.

The Dalian Parkland Apple Store opened on October 24, 2015. It was Apple’s first official store in Dalian and the second in Liaoning Province. Over nearly a decade, it became a landmark for local Apple fans, serving not only as a retail outlet but also as a hub for experiencing Apple’s product ecosystem and brand culture. Its closure is not just the end of a single location—it reflects broader, more profound shifts occurring in the brick-and-mortar retail landscape across China.

In an official statement, Apple explained that the closure was due to the “departure of multiple retailers” from the Parkland shopping center. In other words, the decision was not part of a strategic retreat from the Chinese market, but rather a reaction to the declining commercial environment of the mall itself. Over recent years, Parkland Mall has faced increasing difficulties. Since a change in major shareholders in 2022, numerous international brands—including Coach, Kenzo, MCM, and UGG—have pulled out. In a rebranding effort, the mall was renamed “Intime City” in early 2024 in hopes of reviving its image, but these efforts ultimately failed. Apple, one of the last remaining international anchor tenants, has now also chosen to leave.

This move has sparked intense discussion, not only because of Apple’s symbolic weight in China’s tech and retail sectors but also because it reflects deeper concerns about the viability of physical retail spaces. For over a decade, Apple has viewed China as a vital global market and has invested heavily in building a widespread retail network. Its stores are often associated with premium service, sophisticated design, and strong customer traffic—far from the image of a brand needing to retreat. Therefore, this closure is seen by some as a warning sign of shifting dynamics, even though Apple maintains it is simply responding to local conditions.

At a broader level, the closure illustrates the mounting pressure on traditional retail formats. As digital commerce and mobile consumption continue to rise, even powerful brands like Apple can no longer single-handedly sustain entire shopping centers. Without a strong mix of complementary retailers and consistent foot traffic, physical retail stores are becoming increasingly vulnerable—regardless of brand strength.

In conclusion, the shutdown of the Dalian Parkland Apple Store may be a localized decision, but it carries broader significance. It reveals the structural challenges facing commercial real estate in many Chinese cities and suggests that even market leaders must carefully evaluate their offline presence. Although Apple emphasizes that this does not signal a retreat from China, it’s likely that future retail strategies will focus more on core high-traffic urban areas and the integration of online and offline sales channels. For customers, it marks the fading of a familiar retail space; for the industry, it signals an ongoing realignment of brand presence and spatial economics.