Just a few weeks after rumors of its plans first emerged, Microsoft has now confirmed that it will open a retail store in New York City - and it sounds like the company has some interesting plans in store.
As previously reported, the new Microsoft Store will be established at 677 Fifth Avenue, close to the city's prestigious Museum of Modern Art. It will occupy the space currently held by Italian luxury brand Fendi, in a part of Manhattan that is rich with high-profile brands, with stores from the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Rolex, Prada, Abercrombie & Fitch and others to be found nearby.
As The Wall Street Journal reports, Microsoft has been working on the launch of its NYC store for the last five years. David Porter, corporate vice president for Microsoft's retail stores, told the Journal: "As our first flagship store, it will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience. This is a goal we've had since day one - we were only waiting for the right location. And now we have it."
Microsoft intends for the new location to be "much more than just a Microsoft Store", including an "experiential space" that will allow customers to do more than simply browse products on shelves.
While Microsoft plans to open plenty more stores in the US and Canada this year, the company has still not established an international retail store network. Those in the UK, for example, are still waiting for that Microsoft Store in London, which was reportedly supposed to open in March 2013.
Source: The Wall Street Journal | image via Google Maps
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