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GREENSBORO - We may be in a recession. But you'd never know it by Saturday's Apple Store grand opening.

About 50 employees at the Friendly Center store worked the energized crowd that lined around the back of building, giving people high fives while hooting and hollering.

The frenzied scene more closely resembled a high school football pep rally, complete with chants of "Go Apple go!" and "let's go Apple!"

"Welcome home," general manager Dave Arnold shouted to the crowd before letting the first customer inside, 23-year-old Carrboro resident Ian Meyer.

Employees handed out free T-shirts to the first 1,000 customers while clapping and cheering as they entered.

But to the Apple faithful, it's not just something you wear. You can now proudly show others you were at an Apple Store grand opening.

High fives.

"It's crazy," Meyer said, eyeing the crowd. "I don't pretend to understand."

The store estimated 750 people were standing in line shortly after it opened.

But the long line of people and the party-like atmosphere is typical fanfare for an Apple store opening, even as the recession has taken a bite out of the company's U.S. computer sales.

Customer Don Stone, who along with his son were the ninth and 10th in line, believes quality customer service is key.

Surveys back that up, too. Apple has the highest level of customer satisfaction among computer-buying consumers, according to a recent survey by ChangeWave Research.

"You go to a big box store, they don't know as much as these people," said the 53-year-old High Point resident, who went with this son Jason Stone, 21, an N.C. State student.

Apple stores are also known for the "Genius Bar," where customers can get free technical support from employees.

You can also go online and reserve ahead of time a meeting with a Mac expert.

They also provide free workshops and youth programs. Teachers can also book field trips regarding school projects.

If you haven't been inside an Apple store before, the first thing that strikes you as different is what it doesn't have: a checkout section.

All the employees carry portable checkout gizmos.

The store is filled with tables and shelves featuring the latest Apple offerings including computers, iPhones, iPods and accessories.

"The people in the blue shirts," Stone said in the store shortly after it opened, which was packed with customers and employees. "You tell them what you want to do and they will tell you exactly what you need. It's just exciting."

The store, with its trademark stainless steel panels and back-lit logo on the front, is the company's fourth in North Carolina.

It is located in the newest section of Friendly Center adjacent to the Shops at Friendly Center between Williams-Sonoma and Anthropologie on Avondale Road.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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