On Oct. 26, Microsoft will open its first Manhattan flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue in the five-story Manhattan building, the most expensive retail area in the world.
The company also announced the opening date of a second flagship store in Sydney, Australia, at Westfield Sydney on Pitt Street Mall on Nov. 12.
Both stores will be "cutting-edge spaces," Microsoft corporate VP David Porter says. At 22k SF, the Manhattan store will be the largest to date, with Sydney's store taking up 6k SF.
With the new opening, Microsoft's unveiling a new retail strategy similar to Apple's, with a mix of in-person customer service and showcasing new products. The latest move could kick off a battle of the brands in New York: Microsoft's new shop is just a few blocks south of Apple's own state-of-the-art Fifth Ave location. [WSJ]
