Apple to Close First Unionized U.S. Retail Store in Maryland

Apple said it will shut down its retail store in Towson, Maryland—the first of its U.S. locations where employees successfully unionized—marking a significant development in ongoing labor tensions within the company’s retail operations.

Apple described the decision as “difficult,” citing declining conditions at the Towson Town Center mall and the departure of other retailers as key factors behind the closure. The company added that affected employees will have the opportunity to apply for other roles within its retail network.

The Towson store gained national attention in 2022 when more than 100 workers voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, becoming the first unionized Apple retail location in the United States. The move was seen as a milestone amid broader unionization efforts across major corporations, including Amazon and Starbucks.

The union strongly criticized Apple’s decision, calling it “outrageous” and signaling potential legal action. In a statement, the IAM said the closure raises concerns that the move could be an attempt to undermine union activity, rejecting the company’s assertion that contractual constraints limit relocation options.

The development follows other labor-related challenges for Apple. Around the same period in 2022, a unionization effort at a store in Atlanta was withdrawn, with workers alleging intimidation during the process.

In addition to the Towson location, Apple said it plans to close stores at Trumbull Mall in Connecticut and North County Mall in California. Employees at those locations are expected to transition to nearby Apple stores.

The closure of the Towson store underscores the ongoing friction between large technology companies and organized labor, as unionization efforts continue to expand across the retail sector.