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Last November, Microsoft opened a new 5,000 square-foot retail store in the Bellevue Square mall in the state of Washington near its corporate headquarters, moving in just a few doors down from Apple's slightly smaller store in the mall.
As reported by ifoAppleStore, however, Apple has apparently decided to use its recent strategy of expanding and/or relocating existing stores to take on Microsoft in the Bellevue Square mall. To that end, Apple is moving its retail store to a new location within the mall, doubling its size and taking a position on the second floor away from but still within view of the Microsoft store on the lower level.
Whatever their motive, later this year the Apple store will move, from its ground-floor location that opened in 2003 with 4,600 square-feet, and into a second-level space formerly occupied by three separate retailers. When the move is finished by year's end, the store will double its current size and, most importantly, will be visible to every single visitor leaving the Microsoft store across the hallway and one floor below.
Apple has been making a concerted effort to both build larger stores to help accommodate the large crowds, as well as expand or replace a number of its older, smaller stores that see foot traffic well in excess of desired capacity.
Top Rated Comments
Because nobody wants to visit the Excuse Bar.
I like the current Apple Store in Bellevue Square. It's busy, and has a good energy about it - like a rock concert. I don't know if it is necessary to go larger than UVillage.
The MS Store is embarrassing to go into. The employees stand in their clicks (similarly to the Apple store employees), but they break into 'spontaneous dance' like it's a terrible sequel to to the movie 'Coyote Ugly'. They make all sorts of awkward eye contact while half-heartedly performing to medium volume music...It goes on for what seems like an eternity.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8 (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8)
Just watching it again makes me cringe. How many employees quit their job after that one?
Aren´t they supposed to hate walls? :D
This seems to be happening often...
At Fashion Valley Mall, San Diego, The Microsoft and Apple stores are in mirrored locations across the entrance from each other.
At the Mall of America, the two stores are directly across from and facing one another.
I say good job Microsoft! This is one of the best executed business decisions I've seen. Show people you can be fun too!.
I recommend all apple users go to the Microsoft store. Play with the Xbox on the big wrap around lcd wall.. oh.. and theirs Windows stuff there too.. if you are into that kind of thing.
That IS hilarious and a bit painful to behold. I'd call this yet another Microsoft innovation except that Johnny Rockets hamburger chain already does a similar song and dance.