Is going into an Apple Store like entering some sort of Pleasantville where everyone is happy and things are always perfect? The New York Times seems to think so. According to a recent article, customers are enchanted by "relentlessly smiling employees," interesting architecture, and an atmosphere that feels like more of an event than a retail store. While I'm sure that there will be some differing opinions on those points, some of the figures are hard to argue with.

Apparently, 20% of Apple's revenue is derived from its physical stores—which represents a 42% increase over figures from the 4Q of 2006. They also generate sales at a rate of about $4000 per square foot a year. Just a few of the reasons why their stock is up 135% overall. So, the question is do your experiences visiting or working for Apple stores support these claims and figures? [NYT]

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