It’s a Date: Microsoft’s NYC Flagship Store to Open October 26

Microsoft alerted me this morning that it will open its first flagship retail store on 5th Avenue in New York City on October 26. And a second flagship will open in Sydney, Australia just a few weeks later.

The lack of a store of any kind in New York City has been a sore spot since 2012, when Microsoft briefly opened a temporary store in Times Square for the Windows 8 and Surface launches. But with this new flagship store, all is forgiven.

(Speaking of “flagship,” yes, I immediately think Lumia every time I see that word too.)

“It’s an exciting time for Microsoft,” Microsoft corporate vice president David Porter writes in a post to the Official Microsoft Blog. “Our stores are no exception, as we near the opening of our first-ever flagship store in New York City, followed by our first international flagship location in Sydney.”

The NYC location is at Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, and Microsoft will hold a grand opening event at noon ET on October 26. I’m not sure if I can make it, given how much I’m traveling between now and the end of October, but I will consider it. I’d almost be more interested in the November 12 opening in Sydney, Australia. You know, if anyone feels like sponsoring a trip. 🙂

Regardless, Microsoft describes these two locations as “cutting-edge spaces that represent the best of Microsoft,” so I’m sure they don’t resemble Apple retail stores in the slightest.

“Our largest stores to-date, the New York City and Sydney flagships will include elements that our customers have grown to know and love such as technology you can try from Microsoft and our partners, the Answer Desk – a one-stop shop for technical questions, troubleshooting and repairs regardless of device or where it was purchased, the Community Theater – a space where customers can learn how to use Microsoft’s latest and most popular products in their everyday work and lives, and immersive video walls throughout. These stores are being built for you,” Porter writes.