Microsoft Store opens in Santa Clara
Microsoft opened its brand new retail store in Santa Clara, California on Thursday.
The new retail store is housed in Westfield Valley Fair, Santa Clara California and The Black Keys rock band will be on hand to perform a concert for lucky visitors to the store tomorrow. Tickets were first come first serve and Santa Clara residents were able to secure them by visiting the store early this morning. Microsoft also organized a special concert for November 12 with Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers. The tickets drew large crowds and interest in Microsoft’s thirteenth store. Microsoft’s Santa Clara store is the fifth store to open in California. Microsoft is also handing out software grants to three local organizations. Microsoft will donate $20 for each vote on its Facebook page for three local organizations. Customers can choose between ACE Charter School, Resource Area for Teaching (RAFT) or Rocketship Education.
Microsoft’s latest store in Santa Clara sees them set up shop close to Apple once again. Apple has a store in Valley Fair too, which originally opened in November 2001. Microsoft’s Kevin Turner, chief operating officer, revealed recently that the company plans to expand its stores across the United States within the next few years. Turner showed off a map of the new stores dotted across the United States. Microsoft currently has 13 stores open in the United States. The software giant held a grand opening ceremony for its twelfth Microsoft Store recently. The store, located in Seattle, was opened by Turner. Microsoft presented more than $1 million in software grants to local organizations as part of the grand opening ceremony in October.
Microsoft’s new 75 stores appear to be spread across the east and west coast of the United States. The company is rumored to be launching stores in New York and Orlando later this year too. The Microsoft Stores offer all of the Microsoft products found through online retailers and inside major retail chains, including keyboards and mice, Windows 7, Xbox 360 and many more products. Apple currently has 245 stores in the United States alone, and 357 total stores worldwide, including 33 in the UK and 22 in Canada.
Crowds outside the Santa Clara Microsoft Store
Image Credit: Jimmy B (@jimsbains)