An Apple Store Grows in Brooklyn from Marty Markowitz on Vimeo.
Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn’s out-sized borough president, sent an email to Steve Jobs asking, in no uncertain terms, for an Apple store, probably down in Red Hook by the water or maybe in downtown Brooklyn or maybe Park Slope? Maybe a nice little pre-war building with lots of light and by the express trains? Not too far from a good school and maybe close to the park? Maybe some outdoor space so customers can grill? Huh? Mr. Bigshot Steve Jobs? Why not, you with all the money?
Anyway, Marty prepared a charming video featuring him emailing Steve on his iPad. It doesn’t appear that Jobs answered his plea – yet – but I’m sure a cryptic six word email (“Look for triffids in Fort Greene”) will soon arrive followed by an army of t-shirted geniusii. Then, when Marty meets his first crazy man who has been writing his manifesto on an Apple store iMac for forty straight days without showering, then he’ll really regret he sent that email, reproduced below.
Dear Mr. Jobs:
As you surely know, in the creative world, there’s no place hotter than Brooklyn, USA. Just like “Apple,” Brooklyn is now an international “brand,” signifying the coolest place on earth to live, work, play and create.
I know you’re always dreaming up the next big thing—here’s a suggestion: Hit the big time and bring an Apple store to Brooklyn!
As we speak, Manhattan’s got four Apple stores, and our “suburb” of Staten Island’s even got one. It’s time to bring the goods to the real market—the Mac-loving designers, writers, artists, bloggers, musicians, creative innovators and tech entrepreneurs in Brooklyn neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, DUMBO, Red Hook and beyond. Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest business hub in New York City—with more college students than Cambridge, Massachusetts. And these days, tourists visiting NYC are staying in Brooklyn hotels, dining at our renowned Brooklyn restaurants, hitting our clubs and cultural hot spots (and hey, if they want to take a day trip to Manhattan, that’s okay!). One more thing… As Brooklyn borough president, I invite you to come to Brooklyn for a meeting, tour our borough and explore possible sites. I will even visit you in Cupertino—one hour is all I ask—and make the pitch of a lifetime for the biggest retail launch of the decade. Let’s make “Apple Brooklyn” the ultimate prototype store—one that changes the game yet again, with a retail experience that offers superior educational outreach and catalyzes entrepreneurial partnerships—a kind of “e-town square.” This is my official invitation: Let’s make it happen! An Apple Store Grows in Brooklyn! Sincerely, Marty Markowitz Sent from my iPad Cc: Ron Johnson, Senior Vice President of Retail, Apple, Inc.