Google opens a new physical retail store!

According to a press release, Google announced it is opening a new retail store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as the first of its upcoming neighborhood stores that pay homage to their surrounding communities. It is the company’s second store in New York City, following the opening of a flagship store in Chelsea last year.

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The Brooklyn location will open on June 16, and customers can test out products in stores, pick up items from the Grab & Go wall or get assistance at its Here to Help desk.

Google store, a place to relax?

Google is pursuing an unconventional approach for its first retail store, the internet titan wants its Brooklyn store to be a place where shoppers “kick back and relax” on its couches and try out its products. 

This idea came from the feedback received from its Chelsea store, where customers requested the company - among other things - to add support services, including Pixel phone repairs, more resting areas, more time to test the products in store, and more employees to explain the ins-and-outs of Google tech products for your home or office. 

Google took this feedback to heart and decided that they wanted their customers to “Get the chance to picture everyday life with our products through interactive displays that show how our hardware and services work together,” David Williams, director of retail operations at Google, said in a statement. “For example, you can explore Google Fi phone plans, discover which Pixel color best suits your personality, or learn what goes into making our phone cases more sustainable.”

Meta is also “going physical”

Google’s Williamsburg store announcement follows Meta’s debut of its first store in Burlingame, California, which opened last month. Much like Google wants to highlight its tech product integrations in its storefronts, the Meta store aims to showcase its gadgets, such as virtual reality headsets and smart glasses that customers can use in the metaverse.