New Apple Store a Mystery Worth the Wait: 2013 in Review

If there was a top retail story for Woodbridge in 2013, it has to be the new Apple Store — filling a void in the popular tech firm's storefronts that had been sending local Apple customers to Alexandria, Richmond or Tysons Corner.

We've seen a number of new businesses open in Woodbridge this year, including several at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. New restaurants like Nando's and Not Your Average Joe's opened, along with the latest addition — Toby Keith's Not Your Average Bar and Grill.

What do you think was the big retail opening/closing in Woodbridge this year? Tell us in the comments section below!

But it was an unusually mysterious project in the center of the development that led to a lot of speculation and discussion. In June, Patch published our first post on the possible Apple Store location:

"Apple job listings posted in May promise positions located in Manassas, but AppleInsider and ifoApplestore.com writers believe this is a misdirection, and that the new location is actually at the rapidly developing Potomac Town Center."

Former editor Rachel Leon snapped a photo of the unit under construction in July, but it was still a mystery regarding what would fill the space.

Finally, in August, the Apple Store was confirmed as a large white Apple logo was placed on the black wooden wall that had been masking the storefront.

The Apple Store opened in September and Patch was there with our video camera.

Neel Chokshi drove down from New Jersey for the opening. He'd tried to get an iPhone 5S at a New York City Apple Store, and though he'd been fourth in line and waited six days, they only gave iPhones to the first two in line. But as one of the first six in line today, he thought he'd have better luck.