By The latest big project for high-tech innovator Apple may very well be called the iCafeteria.
The planned Apple restaurant. (Cupertino Planning Commission)
The world's largest technology company is planning to build a 21,468-square-foot eatery exclusively for Apple employees. It will be closed to the public. The idea behind the building is to create a space where workers can talk shop without fear of pesky competitors eavesdropping.
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"We like to provide a level of security so that people and employees can feel very comfortable talking about their business, their research and whatever project they're engineering without fear of competition overhearing their conversations," said Dan Whisenhunt, director of real estate facilities, at a presentation to the Cupertino, Calif., City Council.
"That is a real issue today in Cupertino because we've got other companies here in our same business. It's very important to us," added Whisenhunt.
The two-story building will be centrally located in a cluster of Apple-owned buildings, including five already existing cafes. The company plans to raze a shuttered Japanese restaurant, a past favorite of employees including late co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, according to Whisenhunt.
The first floor of the new building will hold a 204-seat cafeteria along with meeting rooms, a lounge and a courtyard. The second floor will have conference rooms, storage areas and administrative space. There will also be an underground garage. Perhaps the only downside for workers is the building will be closed for dinner.
The company also plans to break ground on its futuristic "spaceship" campus in Cupertino in the fall.
This week, Apple reported dizzying profits of $11.6 billion for the quarter, almost twice that from a year ago riding iPhone and iPad sales.