Rare circa 1997 promotional jacket for the “Apple Cafe,” a conceptual cybercafe and predecessor to the Apple retail store where customers could gather to eat, do business, and use Apple computers. The black barn-style zippered jacket, size large, 100% cotton, features brass-tone buttons to the collar, pockets, and cuffs, a small Apple rainbow logo to the left chest, and the back bears the Apple Cafe emblem, which shows six pictograms orbiting around an uncommon globe-inspired Apple logo. The collar retains its Hilton Active Apparel label. In fine condition. The consignor notes that the jacket was obtained from a project member who affirmed that this was the only promotional item that the team received.
Not long after Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, the company began working on a conceptual cybercafe where clientele could order food, watch movies, surf the web, play video games, and, of course, buy Apple products. The project was the ‘Apple Cafe’ and it was very nearly a done deal; Apple was far enough along in the design process that there was a website promoting the Apple Cafe, and planned openings in Paris, London, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney, but the stores never materialized. Although the jacket’s logo doesn't resemble the clean, simple design of today’s Apple, the central idea — connecting with customers — inspired both the cafe and Apple's eventual line of retail stores.
