Apple Permanently Closes Three U.S. Retail Stores, Including Unionized Location

Apple permanently closed three of its U.S. retail stores on June 20, 2025, including a unionized location at Towson Town Center in Maryland. The other two stores are at Trumbull Shopping Park in Connecticut and The Shops at North County in California.

Background

In April 2025, Apple announced plans to close these stores due to declining conditions at the shopping malls. The Towson Town Center store became the first Apple retail store in the U.S. to unionize in 2022. Employees there belong to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers' Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE) and ratified a collective bargaining agreement in 2024.

"Apple signed a collective bargaining agreement that requires equal treatment. It is time for Apple to honor that agreement and do right by these workers before June 20." — IAM President Brian Bryant

Dispute Over Employee Transfers

Apple is allowing non-unionized employees at Trumbull and North County to transfer to nearby stores, but not extending the same offer to unionized employees at Towson. Apple states it is following the collective bargaining agreement, which specifies that in the event of a store closure, employees would be transferred or rehired only if a new store opens within 50 miles.

Currently, Apple has no plans to open a new store in that area. Under the agreement, employees will receive severance. If Apple opens a store within 50 miles within 18 months after the agreement was ratified, affected employees have right of first refusal.

Union Response

IAM President Brian Bryant said the union expects equal treatment under the contract and accused Apple of punishing workers for unionizing. He stated, "Apple signed a collective bargaining agreement that requires equal treatment. It is time for Apple to honor that agreement and do right by these workers before June 20."

Additional Context

Towson Town Center has lost several major retailers in recent years, supporting Apple's stated reason for closure. The situation may influence other Apple stores considering unionization.