I walk past the Apple store in Eaton centre at least twice every day, and I think the less than ideal appeal is mostly due to the lack of space. It is almost always crowded, sometimes as bad as a southbound Yonge subway at 8:30 am.
Plus there is no beauty in the design of the store (exterior and interior). Pretty bareback kind of layout. But it is Apple, and they can get away with it. Most of the clothing stores try to make the setting as nice as possible, while Apple is not so different from a Walmart or Canadian Tire.
Contrary to your opinion that there is no beauty in the design of an Apple Store, many consider Apple Stores to be among the most beautiful retail spaces in the world, celebrated for their clean design. I see no comparison whatsoever to Walmarts or Canadian Tire, that's beyond odd to me.
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