CULT OF MAC6 Hours Ago

Microsoft copies Apple with Fifth Avenue flagship retail store

by Luke Dormehl

Luke Dormehl (6:35 am PDT, Sep 29th)

Microsoft has copied (or “been inspired by”) many, many Apple innovations over the years, and now it’s set to copy the location of its most famous Apple Store of all.

That’s right: the Windows maker is set to open up shop with a retail store just blocks from Apple’s iconic Fifth Avenue glass cube. The new “flagship” Microsoft Store will move into a location previously occupied by Fendi.

“This is a goal we’ve had since day one — we were only waiting for the right location,” Microsoft’s corporate vice president for retail stores said in a statement. “And now we have it.”

The move will give Microsoft a permanent presence in New York City’s upscale shopping district. Previously the company used temporary pop-up stores, along with a speciality store in Staten Island.

The New York location will add to the 100+ Microsoft retail stores which already exist in the U.S. (with around that many customers to split between them, based on a fewcomparisons we’ve done.)

Apple’s flagship Manhattan retail store turnedeight years old earlier this year: preceding both the iPhone and iPad. Not only does it gross more than any other store in New York, it also makes more dough per square foot than any other store in the world.

In early 2010, former Apple employee Mark Burstiner rescued a broken glass stair belonging to the store and put it up on eBay — with bids eventually passing $9,500.The shop’s grand opening meanwhile saw (non-paid) appearances by celebrities including Kevin Bacon, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Spike Lee and Dave Chappelle.

Microsoft too has promised an “experiential space” with its new Fifth Avenue store, but frankly we can’t quite imagine it matching Apple’s.

If the “experience” in question happens to involve the latest version of Windows, we may just stick to our Apple Store, thank you very much.

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