Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation are stepping up pressure on Apple over its reported plan to shut down its Towson Town Center retail store, a move that could affect close to 100 workers and disrupt services across the Baltimore region. The closure is expected to take effect on June 20, 2026, even as the location is believed to be performing well and had recently expanded its workforce.
The push is being led by Representative Johnny Olszewski, who, along with Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and several House members, has written to Apple CEO Tim Cook and senior executive John Ternus seeking answers. Lawmakers say they want clarity on why the company would exit a strong retail location without plans to relocate within the Baltimore area.
“As Members of the Maryland congressional delegation, we write to express serious concern regarding Apple’s reported decision to close its retail store at Towson Town Center in Towson1, Maryland, effective June 20, 2026, without plans to reopen or relocate this store within the Baltimore region,” the letter states.
The lawmakers pointed out that the store has been operating in a high-performing location and had recently added staff, making the decision harder to understand. They are now asking Apple to explain whether other options were seriously evaluated before arriving at a closure decision.
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“We understand that the Towson store has been in a strong-performing location and has recently expanded its workforce. Given these factors, we seek a clearer understanding of the rationale behind this decision, including whether alternatives such as relocation within the Baltimore region or other operational adjustments were meaningfully considered.”
Beyond the rationale, the delegation is also focusing on employee welfare. They are seeking assurances that workers affected by the closure will receive the same level of support as other Apple employees, including opportunities to transition to other roles within the company.
“We also seek confirmation that displaced workers will not be left behind by the closure decision, and will have the same access to support as other Apple employees.”
To get detailed answers, the lawmakers laid out a set of specific questions for Apple, ranging from the reasoning behind the closure to the company’s internal assessment of its economic impact and workforce implications.
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To better understand this matter, we respectfully request responses to the following:
- What factors led to the decision to close this location despite its reported performance, and were alternatives to closure fully evaluated?
- What analysis did Apple conduct to assess the economic and workforce impacts of closing the Towson location, particularly on the nearly 100 employees affected?
- What specific measures does Apple plan to take to support impacted employees, including severance, job placement assistance, and the ability to transfer locations? Will Apple commit to providing displaced employees the ability to immediately transfer to another Apple store location?”
The letter also highlights the broader ripple effects the closure could have on the local economy. Lawmakers warned that losing the store would mean not just job losses but also reduced spending in the surrounding retail corridor and fewer services for local businesses that depend on in-person technical support.
“Beyond its workforce impact, the closure of this store will significantly affect residents and small businesses across the Baltimore region. This closure would directly impact approximately 90–100 employees, resulting in a substantial loss of household income circulating within the local economy.”
They also flagged the loss of a key service hub that many small and mid-sized businesses rely on, which could increase costs and delays for routine operations.
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“The Towson location has provided residents and small businesses with critical in-person services, including technical support, repairs, and business solutions upon which many constituents rely.”
While acknowledging that such decisions involve complex business considerations, the delegation urged Apple to revisit its plan and explore alternatives that could preserve both jobs and its presence in the region.
“We recognize that decisions of this scale involve complex business considerations. However, we urge Apple to reconsider whether there are viable paths forward that would preserve jobs and maintain a retail presence in the region.”
The lawmakers have asked the company to respond by May 15, 2026, stressing the urgency of the situation as the proposed closure date approaches.
“We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and request a written response by no later than May 15th, 2026, as time is of the essence.”