MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Microsoft’s fourth retail location had its grand opening today at the Square One Shopping Centre in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga.
More than 2,000 people lined up over night to be one of the first people inside the store. They also received a VIP pass to the Weezer concert the next day at the Powerade Centre.
The first person in line Ike Khan told CDN that he had waited more than 15 hours. Khan was interested in purchasing the new Surface 2 considering that there was a grand opening special deal of $200 off the list price. “And, getting a chance to see Weezer is a bonus,” Khan added.
The Square One location is Microsoft’s fourth store in Canada and the 84 location overall in North America. Other Microsoft Stores in Canada are located at the Yorkdale Mall in Toronto, the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta and one in Burnaby, B.C. The company also has three other Microsoft Store kiosks.
The Mississauga location has more than 3,500 square-feet of retail space that features not just the Surface 2, but also Xbox, Windows Phone solutions and other products from vendor alliance partners such as HP, Dell, Acer and others.
Jonathan Adashek, the general manager of Microsoft’s global retail strategy, said that one of the least mentioned attractions of the store is that its staff is able to service any computer product, even non-Windows devices.
“This service is free to all customers,” Adashek said.
He added that Microsoft stores help tell the company’s devices and services strategy to the market place, especially to the business community.
One of the more popular new areas of the Square One store was the 3D printing centre. Many of the first customers test drove the MakerBot desktop 3D printer that was on sale at the Microsoft store.
The store manager of Microsoft’s Square One location Steve Grebenc said that one of the main focuses of the company’s retail strategy is to create a gathering place for the local community.
On hand for the grand opening was the Mayor of Mississauga, the 92-year old Hazel McCallion who quipped it was about time Microsoft opened a store in her town.
Canadian Senator Victor Oh said this store is another example of how Mississauga has become a technology hub for Canada.
Microsoft Canada also donated $1,480,000 in software credits to charities such as the Hospital of Sick Children and Unicef Canada.
