From the Department of I Can Hardly Wait: A Sneak Peek of the New Microsoft Store
by Kara Swisher
Posted on August 7, 2009 at 5:50 PM PT
Today, Microsoft (MSFT) tweeted a photo of the wall in front of one of its upcoming retail stores, either in Scottsdale, Ariz., or Mission Viejo, Calif.
You can see it below, as well as the Twitter post, although it is not clear which location it is.
Frankly, those mall potted plants could be just about anywhere–I am guessing some Foot Locker is right around the corner and an Outback Steakhouse is not far either.
This does not bode well if the software giant is hoping to one-up the sleek and hip Apple (AAPL) store vibe.
In fact, that’s where BoomTown is off to now, to nab an early place in line for an iTablet.
(Click on the images to make them larger.)
(By the way, Microsoft made one failed foray into retail many years ago in San Francisco, which you can read about here.)
Comments
Kara,
According to http://www.bennigans.com/locator.php there is no Bennigan’s in AZ and only 2 in CA.
But, just for you, there is one in Bahrain and one in Qatar. Given the strong support of women’s rights in both these countries, I expect to see you there.
Posted by Dave Barnes at August 7th, 2009 at 8:46 pmhaa haa…i had the same reaction as Dave as bennigan’s went bankrupt and there are few of the chain left…but your comment is a little harsh, no?
Posted by David Yun at August 7th, 2009 at 10:31 pmD & D:
Ok, i will change bennigan’s reference to an Outback Steakhouse.
But Dave Barnes, your rude comment about the Middle East makes exactly no sense.
Posted by Kara Swisher at August 8th, 2009 at 1:28 am“makes exactly no sense.”
My daughter (age=23) says that all the time about my jokes/comments.
No explanation as I would screw that up.
Posted by Dave Barnes at August 8th, 2009 at 2:59 pmSuffice it say that I only meant to rude to Bahrain and Qatar and not to you.
Actually, this is not the first Microsoft store.
The first Microsoft retail store which was authorized (by Steve Ballmer), co-designed and operated by Microsoft was at Metreon, the Sony Retail Entertainment Center in San Francisco.
Posted by Steve Goldstein at August 9th, 2009 at 12:24 amS:
Yes, I meant the new one. I, in fact wrote about that store when Microsoft first announced the new ones.
http://kara.allthingsd.com/200.....as-a-bust/
Posted by Kara Swisher at August 9th, 2009 at 9:56 pmI have no interest in shopping at Microsoft store. This is going to be like the Sony stores empty.
Neal Saferstein
Posted by Neal Saferstein at August 10th, 2009 at 6:39 amhttp://nealsaferstein.com