Apple Boutique

A onetime retail store, located on Baker Street in London, England, and one of the first business ventures made by the fledgling Apple Corps, a company founded by the Beatles.

Related Topics:
Retail store - Baker Street - London - England - Apple Corps - The Beatles

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Opened on December 7, 1967 (with John Lennon and George Harrison attending the grand opening), the Apple Boutique's primary advertisement (aside from the promotion given by the Beatles themselves, in the media) was an elabourate mural painted on one whole outside wall of their location, designed by Dutch artistic trio The Fool, facing out into Baker Street. Inside the shop, clothing and accessories also designed (or handpicked) by The Fool was available.

Related Topics:
December 7 - 1967 - John Lennon - George Harrison - Mural - The Fool

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Almost immediately, trouble broke out along both fronts; other local businesses objected to the psychedelically-painted wall and petitioned for it to be changed or wiped out altogether, while shoplifting became the #1 pastime indoors. Would-be customers began helping themselves to the trendy items instead, and it was often too difficult for the staff to tell which things someone came in with, and which they picked up—plus in the era of "peace and love", nobody wanted to be the one to make an accusation, or cause someone to be arrested. The Fool's members also made a habit of taking their choice of the merchandise. The boutique began losing money at an alarming rate.

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Ultimately, the local businesses won on the outside, with the mural removed by civic order. Inside, after months of steady losses, it was decided to close the boutique. This happened on July 30, 1968. The Beatles, their wives and girlfriends came the night before to take what they wanted, then the next morning, it was announced that everything was to be given away for free. Word got out quickly, and the store was empty within hours, the public (numbering in the hundreds) nearly rioting to get their share.

Related Topics:
July 30 - 1968

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As a final gesture, Paul McCartney used the site of the closed shop to advertise their newest single, whitewashing "Hey Jude" in all the windows. At first this backfired, with a few locals mistaking the title for anti-Semitic graffiti, but matters were soon explained, and the single appeared shortly after.

Related Topics:
Paul McCartney - Single - Hey Jude - Anti-Semitic - Graffiti

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The boutique's manager, longtime Beatles friend Peter Shotton, moved on to other jobs at Apple Corps. Another staffer, Pattie Boyd's sister Jenny Boyd, dated singer Donovan, and later married drummer Mick Fleetwood.

Related Topics:
Peter Shotton - Pattie Boyd - Jenny Boyd - Donovan - Mick Fleetwood

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