New York City's famed Fifth Avenue is big enough to fit flagship stores from two different tech companies.
Microsoft announced Wednesday that it will hold its New York City flagship store's grand opening on Oct. 26. Its Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street location – previously occupied by an old Fendi store – is just a few blocks away from Apple's iconic glass cube flagship store.
Join us for Microsoft's flagship grand opening celebration on Fifth Ave & 53rd St, 10/26.
— Microsoft Store (@MicrosoftStore) September 30, 2015
"These flagship stores have been in the making for six years," said David Porter, Microsoft's head of retail and online stores, to The Verge. "We are eager to open our doors to those in Manhattan. The five-floor, 22,269 square foot location will be a premier venue to learn about, experience and shop for the products and services from Microsoft and our partners."
Like the Apple store's Genius Bar of live technicians on hand to help consumers with whatever issues they have on their devices, Microsoft's Manhattan flagship store will have what it calls its Answer Desk to do much the same. The space will also have a theater and video walls sprawled throughout the store.
Sources with knowledge of the grand opening told The Verge that devices such as the Surface Pro 4 tablet, Microsoft Band 2 and new Lumia phones will be available for consumers to try out during the store's inaugural day.
Perhaps the highly anticipated Microsoft Studios' video game Halo 5: Guardians, which is slated for an Oct. 27 release, will be available for fans to tap their thumbs to during the flagship store's grand opening as well. At least gamers can hope.
