Microsoft has revealed the entire list of pop-up stores (or holiday stores) it plans to open throughout North America this coming holiday season. It's a positive sign to see Microsoft build a larger retail presence to combat its main competitor - Apple. 32 stores will open up shop in 20 US states, as well as shops in British Columbia, Toronto, and Alberta, Canada.
With the imminent release of Windows 8, coupled with new Office, Surface tablets and Windows Phone hardware, there's plenty of opportunity for Microsoft to build on its branding revamp to a more simplistic and modern feel. It's a common thought that Microsoft has almost become a new company to what consumers have grown accustomed to.
Here's the full list of pop-up stores that we'll be seeing in the near future:
- Aventura Mall – Aventura, FL
- Beachwood Place – Beachwood, OH
- Cherry Creek Shopping Center – Denver, CO
- Dadeland Mall – Miami, FL
- Eaton Centre – Toronto, Ontario
- Fashion Mall at Keystone – Indianapolis, IN
- Fashion Show Mall– Las Vegas, NV
- Glendale Galleria – Glendale, CA
- Mall at Green Hills – Nashville, TN
- Mall in Columbia – Columbia, MD
- Metropolis at Metrotown – Burnaby, BC
- Montgomery Mall – Bethesda, MD
- Natick Collection – Natick, MA
- North Star Mall – San Antonio, TX
- Oakridge Centre – Vancouver, BC
- Penn Square Mall – Oklahoma City, OK
- Perimeter Mall – Atlanta, GA
- Roosevelt Field Mall – Garden, City, NY
- Ross Park Mall – Pittsburgh, PA
- Saint Louis Galleria – St. Louis, MO
- San Francisco Centre – San Francisco, CA
- South Shore Plaza – Braintree, MA
- Southpark Mall – Charlotte, NC
- Stonebriar Centre Mall – Frisco, TX
- Streets at Southpoint – Durham, NC
- Time Warner Center – The Shops at Columbus Circle – New York, NY
- Washington Square– Portland, OR
- West Edmonton Mall – Edmonton, Alberta
- Westfarms Mall – West Hartford, CT
- Westfield Garden State Plaza – Paramus, NJ
- Woodland Hills Mall – Tulsa, OK
- Woodlands Mall – Woodlands, TX
Microsoft still hasn't supplied details and dates for when we can look to see these stores open their doors, though we'd guess for them to be ready by (or soon after) Windows 8's release. We're still waiting for the first Microsoft Store here in the UK - as is everyone else who resides outside the states. Here's hoping anyway, folks.
Source: The Verge
Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a device chassis. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
