Microsoft confirmed plans to open a flagship retail location on New York City's Fifth Avenue, the Wall Street Journal reported today, just a five-minute walk away from Apple's iconic glass cube.
Windows 9 Will Be A Free Upgrade From Windows 8, According To A New Report
What will become of that third of a mile of street caught in the crossfire is anyone's guess.
As the company's chain of Microsoft Stores continues to expand across the continent, Microsoft is looking to solidify its retail experience with one definitive location. Microsoft has had plans to open a flagship location on New York's Fifth Avenue since Microsoft Stores began opening in 2009. This flagship location is set to open some time in 2015.
Microsoft Released A Universal Mobile Keyboard For All Kinds Of Devices
Microsoft's chosen location, 677 Fifth Ave., sits on a pricey lot in the middle of one of New York's most famous shopping areas. For a company as huge as Microsoft, the hefty rent is worth the visibility the store will enjoy on such a busy thoroughfare.
"As our first flagship store, it will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience," David Porter, corporate vice president for Microsoft retail stores, told the Wall Street Journal. "This is a goal we've had since day one – we were only waiting for the right location. And now we have it."
One of Apple's long-standing advantages in the grand computer debate was its retail availability. It was easy for many people to find a local Apple Store and pop in with technical questions if they had little luck with troubleshooting forms. If Microsoft can expand its in-person experience to match Apple's – Microsoft still only has about half as many retail locations, according to the report – it may be able to strike a point off Apple's metaphorical scoreboard.
