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Apple has temporarily closed seven of its retail stores across France as the country prepares for another round of demonstrations, one week after unrest saw two Apple Stores targeted by looters.
The closures affect all three of Apple’s Paris locations — Champs-Élysées, Opéra and Marché Saint-Germain — as well as stores in Bordeaux, Lille, Strasbourg and Aix-en-Provence. Apple’s own retail pages show the locations closed on Saturday, October 24, with several operating under special opening hours over the weekend.
MacRumors reports that the closures are understood to be a precaution ahead of further protests, with the affected stores all opening directly onto public streets. Apple Stores located inside shopping centers are expected to continue operating normally.
The move follows the looting of Apple Sainte-Catherine in Bordeaux during unrest on October 17. Apple’s Lille store was also reportedly targeted during the same demonstrations, which saw shops and other businesses damaged in several French cities.
According to the Associated Press, the demonstrations have centered on rising living costs and conditions in schools. Hundreds of thousands of people reportedly took part peacefully last weekend, although violence, vandalism and looting broke out in some areas.
Apple Champs-Élysées, Opéra, Marché Saint-Germain, Bordeaux Sainte-Catherine and Aix-en-Provence are currently expected to reopen on Sunday with reduced hours. Apple Lille and Apple Strasbourg are listed as remaining closed on Sunday before reopening on Monday.
The precaution is notable given Apple’s previous experience with unrest in France. In 2023, Apple’s Strasbourg store was looted during widespread riots, while Apple has continued expanding theft protections that can remotely disable stolen devices and make them significantly harder to resell.
Apple has not publicly issued a detailed statement explaining the closures, but its retail website currently lists the affected stores as closed or operating with special hours.
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