Apple Closes Towson Union Store, Two Other US Locations

Apple will permanently close three U.S. retail stores on June 20, including its first unionized location in Towson, Maryland, citing deteriorating conditions at the host malls. The decision triggers a dispute with the labor union representing the Towson staff, who must apply for new roles rather than being automatically relocated like employees at the other two sites.

Mall decline drives consolidation

Apple attributed the closures to the "departure of several retailers and declining conditions" at Trumbull Mall in Connecticut, the Shops at North County in California, and Towson Town Center in Maryland [1]. Trumbull Mall’s owner recently defaulted on over $150 million in loans, while Towson Town Center has lost major tenants like Banana Republic and Tommy Bahama this year [1][3]. Despite these closures, Apple continues to expand its physical footprint, having opened 11 new stores globally and upgraded 14 others in the past year. The company is increasingly opting for stores in commercial districts—such as the Apple Downtown Detroit and Apple Miami Worldcenter locations opened in 2025—rather than relying on indoor mall foot traffic [1][2].

Labor dispute and legal risks

The closure of the Apple Towson Town Center location, which became the company's first unionized store in 2022, has drawn sharp criticism from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) [1][3]. While employees at the Connecticut and California stores will transfer to nearby locations, Towson staff are only "eligible to apply for open roles" under their collective bargaining agreement [1][2]. The nearest store to Towson is in Columbia, Maryland, approximately 26 miles away, a distance the union argues harms community access [2]. The IAM union called the move a "cynical attempt to bust the union" and disputed Apple's claim that the agreement prevents relocation, stating it is exploring legal options [1][2].

What to watch

• Legal filings from the IAM union challenging the closure or the interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Apple’s future retail site selection, specifically whether it continues to prioritize downtown districts over mall locations.
• The outcome of employee reapplications at the Towson location compared to the automatic transfers at the other two sites.

The incident highlights the friction between Apple's real estate optimization and its labor relations, leaving the courts to determine if the closure was a business necessity or a retaliatory tactic.