Apple has permanently closed three of its retail stores in the United States as of today, Saturday, June 20, 2026. The decision, announced in April, affects locations in Trumbull, Connecticut; North County, California; and Towson Town Center in Maryland. The Towson store is particularly notable because its employees became the first Apple retail workers in the US to unionize in 2022, joining the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) and signing a collective bargaining agreement in 2024.
Apple stated that the closures were due to declining conditions at the shopping malls where these stores are located. The Towson Town Center, in particular, has lost many other major retailers in recent years, making Apple's presence less sustainable. However, the move has sparked a labor dispute: while non-unionized employees at Trumbull and North County were offered transfers to nearby stores, unionized workers at Towson were not extended the same option.
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The IAM union has accused Apple of potential union busting and failing to honor the spirit of the collective agreement. IAM President Brian Bryant said, "Apple workers in Towson voted to join the IAM, fought for and won a contract, and are now being punished for it." Bryant urged Apple to honor the agreement and do right by these workers. In response, Apple claims it is following the contract terms: the agreement stipulates that in the event of a closure, employees would be transferred or rehired only if Apple opens a new store within 50 miles. Since no new store is planned, the company is providing severance as negotiated. Apple also noted that if a new store opens within 18 months of the contract's ratification, affected employees would have right of first refusal.
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This case raises broader questions about Apple's relationship with unions. The company has historically discouraged unionization, and this situation might discourage other employees from organizing, fearing similar consequences. However, the genuine decline of Towson Town Center makes Apple's exit understandable. The closure of these three stores marks a new chapter for Apple retail, even as the company continues to expand elsewhere and promote digital services like Apple Music and offers on products like Meta Quest.
For more background on Apple Stores, see the Wikipedia entry. The situation in Towson remains fluid, with the union considering legal action while Apple defends its position.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/20/three-apple-stores-closing-today
