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Apple's Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City, with its iconic glass cube, is the most famous Apple retail store on the planet.
So, it shouldn't be a surprise that there was an absolutely crazy scene at the store for the launch of the iPhone 5.
We were at the store this morning — take a look at what we saw.
The Fifth Avenue Apple Store is normally open 24/7, 365 days a year — but it's closed for a while today.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
TV news vans were all lined up on the curb. The place was packed with media.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
An epic line snaked away from the famous glass cube, filled with resellers, spot-holders and superfans alike.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Some were sleeping.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Others knocked back coffee.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
An Apple photographer scurried around taking photos of everything, behind the security that kept the media at bay.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Of course, the NYPD was there to keep everybody safe.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
The line meandered away from the store toward Madison Ave.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Representatives from Gazelle were out talking to people throughout the line to tell people about their service — they buy old iPhones and give you cash for them.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
One girl was trying to convince someone to let her cut the line.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
In fact, it reached all the way to Madison Ave. That's a whole, long block.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
A bunch of people in line had these yellow OtterBox shirts on.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
All the Apple Store employees had these on. They promoted different Apple services.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
The clock neared 8 AM, but some folks were still passed out.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Getting organized. Almost time to go...
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Inside, beneath the cube, the Apple workers were shouting, and frequently leading huge cheers.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
There were some high-fives during the calm before the storm.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
8 AM. Pandemonium.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Pretty much everyone near the front had a smile on their face as they were cheered on by the blue shirts.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
They came forward in waves, led by Apple folks.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
A few minutes later, green dude (that's Greg Packer, a guy famous for always being at the front of lines) came back upstairs. Aha, an iPhone 5! The crowd — and the photographers and cameramen in the pit — loved it.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
And there it is, unboxed and booting up.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Lifted up in the air in triumph.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
This guy had a plush pig. We don't know why he had a pig, but he had a pig.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
This spiky-haired Apple fan attracted a lot of attention too.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Meanwhile, there was a drone hovering above, pointed at the entrance of the cube.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Apple fans kept rolling out of the store grinning, lifting their iPhone 5s in the air and posing for the cameras.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Inside, Apple didn't let the store get too packed though. There was room to walk around — except at the Genius Bar.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
It was totally overrun, even though workers were using all tables to help people buy their iPhone 5s.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Hey! A white iPhone 5.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Onlookers loomed above, recording the frenzy below.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
The hundreds of Apple employees were constantly churning out sales during the rush.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
They also did walkthroughs on the new phones.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Many paid with cash — lots of cash.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
Aww, one customer brought her pet into the store. The dog seemed happy, albeit overwhelmed.
Kim Bhasin / Business Insider
On the way out, the NYPD was giving away forms with information about cell phone safety and how to register yours.
Apple's Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City, with its iconic glass cube, is the most famous Apple retail store on the planet.