*March ends with ‎‎493 of Apple’s 511 stores having reopened to some capacity. Several stores in France & both retail locations in Brazil remain closed.*

March marks the first anniversary when Apple first closed all their retail stores outside of greater China in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, 96% of Apple's stores have reopened to some capacity. The majority of France's stores remain closed due to the COVID spread, retail locations in Brazil remain shuttered, and a late March lockdown in Queensland, Australia temporarily closed a few stores. Otherwise, MarcMarch one of the most uneventful months in this series, with only a few intermittent, temporary closures to report.

This shouldn't be interpreted as a sign that the pandemic has ended, quite the contrary! Many countries during March have been hit with severe third or even fourth waves of COVID-19 cases. Instead, it highlights our habituation in learning to live with the virus and the hundreds of adaptations and modifications we've all made over the past year to keep safety and a normal(ish) functioning in a delicate balance.

Entry Series:

March 01

Location: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Note: This store is reopening in a very limited capacity. Apple lists that stores in the UK are limited to Genius Support with an appointment. Customers are directed to online shopping and delivery for product orders.

Reopening: Apple Victoria Square, Belfast (First reopening: June 15; First closure: October 26; Second reopening: November 09; Second closure: December 25, 2020)

Location: 🇺🇸 United States of America

Note: This is the first time since May 11, 2020 that all Apple retail stores in the United States have been open simultaneously after closing on March 13 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [source]

Reopening: Apple Haywood Mall, Greensville, South Carolina (First reopening: Week of May 26; Closed: June 20; Second reopening: October 25, 2020; Second closure: January 10, 2021)

Reopening: Apple Galleria Dallas, Dallas, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: October 01, 2020; Second closure: January 10, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Knox Street, Dallas, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: October 01, 2020; Second closure: January 10, 2021)
Reopening: Apple NorthPark Center, Dallas, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: October 01, 2020; Second closure: January 10, 2021)
Reopening: Apple University Park Village, Fort Worth, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: October 01, 2020; Second closure: January 10, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Baybrook, Friendswood, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25; Second reopening: October 20, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Highland Village, Houston, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25, 2020; Second reopening: October 18, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Houston Galleria, Houston, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25, 2020; Second reopening: October 18, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Memorial City, Houston, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25, 2020; Second reopening: October 18, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple Willowbrook Mall, Houston, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25; Second reopening: October 20, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: September 23, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple North Star, San Antonio, Texas (First reopening: Week of May 25; First closure: July 01; Second reopening: September 23, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple First Colony Mall, Sugar Land, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25; Second reopening: October 20, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)
Reopening: Apple The Woodlands, The Woodlands, Texas (First reopening: May 27; First closure: June 25; Second reopening: October 20, 2020; Second closure: January 16, 2021)

March 02

Location: 🇲🇽 Mexico

Reopening: Apple Antara, Mexico City (First reopening: October 07; First closure: December 19, 2020)

Reopening: Apple Vía Santa Fe, Mexico City (First reopening: October 07; First closure: December 19, 2020)

March 09

Location: 🇨🇦 Canada

Closure: Apple Eaton Centre, Toronto (First reopening: June 29, 2020)

March 11

Location: 🇩🇪 Germany

Closure: Apple Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse, Frankfurt (First reopening: May 11; First closure: December 15, 2020; Second reopening: February 15, 2021)

March 12

Location: 🇨🇦 Canada

Reopening: Apple Eaton Centre, Toronto (First reopening: June 29, 2020; First closure: March 09, 2021)

March 22

Location: 🇩🇪 Germany

Reopening: Apple Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse, Frankfurt (First reopening: May 11; First closure: December 15, 2020; Second reopening: February 15, 2021; Second closure: March 11, 2021)

March 30

Location: 🇦🇺 Australia

Closure: Apple Chermside, Chermside (First reopening: May 07, 2020; First closure: January 09; Second reopening: January 12, 2021)
Closure: Apple Carindale, Carindale (First reopening: May 07, 2020; First closure: January 09; Second reopening: January 12, 2021)
Closure: Apple Brisbane, Brisbane City (First reopening: May 07, 2020; First closure: January 09; Second reopening: January 12, 2021)

Huge thanks for the work of Michael Steeber from 9to5mac.com for continuing his incredible coverage of Apple Retail! His work has been instrumental in helping compile this series.

Props to @imicsun who has been following this process and producing a detailed infographic of Apples retail relaunch in lock step with Michael’s updates.

Apple Store Covid-19 Timeline: March, 2021