Photos

Like Steve Jobs before him, Apple CEO Tim Cook on Saturday dropped by the new Apple Store in downtown Palo Alto on its opening day, drawing huge applause from store employees and wowing excited Apple fans inside and out.

The new 16,600-square-foot building at 340 University Ave. is an homage to glass, with a floor-to-ceiling glass store front and a curved, wall-to-wall glass ceiling. White stone, slab walls and metal beams complete the streamlined structure. The glowing, white Apple logo hangs prominently in the front, and the atomic "Genius Bar" logo can be seen in the back of the store.

On Saturday, crowds hovered around flat-topped product displays, fiddling with iPads and MacBooks, while workers enthusiastically welcomed customers. In addition to the displays, the store has training and workshop sections and an enlarged Genius Bar to help owners of the Cupertino company's product.

When Cook arrived, blue-shirted employees formed a line at the front door, cheering and clapping for their chief, who shook hands with many of them as he made his way to the rear.

The new Apple isn't falling far from the tree. It is situated two blocks west and across the street from its predecessor at the seismically unsafe 451 University Ave.

Related story: Apple Store 2.0 opening Saturday in Palo Alto

— Palo Alto Weekly staff

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.