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Microsoft retail flagship opens doors in NY

It’s opening day today for Microsoft’s first flagship retail location on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Courtesy of Microsoft

October 26, 2015

It's opening day today for Microsoft’s first flagship retail location on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and from all reports it's bound to be a customer experience above the norm given its five floors and lots of interactive features for the Windows device fan.

The store is the tech giant's first to boast more than one floor and is both a retail site and consumer training and education facility, according to Engadget's report. There's a big community theater and a big section dedicated just to the gaming console Xbox. PC vendor and longtime partner Dell occupies the third floor. Reports claims there will be more than 15 store associates on hand, providing insight in nearly 20 different languages, a reflection of the diverse shopper population in New York City.

The store boasts an exterior culture wall, for digital imagery representative of the Fifth Avenue shopping district culture, according to a Microsoft post. Called a culture wall — 40 feet wide by 20 feet high — the focus is on the vendor integrating into the community as it will display non-commercial, artistic images.

"This is something that is super important to us and really layers back up to the company's mission of how we are helping people achieve more," said Kelly Soligon, general manager, worldwide marketing, Microsoft Retail and Online Stores, in the post. "We really strive to be part of the fabric of every community where we operate."

No word yet on what Microsoft plans for the fifth floor penthouse area and all operations are on the fourth floor.

One very noticeable feature, according to PC World, is a two-story video tower at the 22,000-square-foot site. The retail launch comes with the arrival of Microsoft's new Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book devices.