Live from New York, it's a flagship Microsoft Store!

Microsoft Stores are surprisingly cool places; much better than Apple's iconic stores. Sure, the fruit-logo company's store is more famous, plus full of hipsters and other rather trendy folks, but the Microsoft Store tends to be more useful and better designed. From my observations, the Apple Store in the mall is a place teens and husbands go to play with stuff as their moms or wives shop in lady-stores, while actual shoppers go to Microsoft.

Surprisingly, a full-fledged Microsoft Store has been absent from Manhattan. While there are many big cities in the world, none are trendier or more significant than New York. Finally, the company is delivering a store to New Yorkers on Fifth Avenue; however, it isn't just any store, but the flagship store.

"Today, I am pleased to confirm we have signed a lease to open a flagship store at 677 Fifth Avenue in New York City. As our first flagship store, it will serve as the centerpiece of our Microsoft Stores experience. This is a goal we've had since day one -- we were only waiting for the right location. And now we have it. Our Fifth Avenue location will be much more than just a Microsoft Store. In addition to retail, there will be experiential space for Microsoft as a company to further engage with our customers and partners in new and innovative ways. This is an important milestone for Microsoft overall, our Stores team and millions of our current customers, as well as the millions to come. We could not be more excited to join one of the most visited streets in America", says David Porter, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Retail Stores, Microsoft.

Porter further explains, "our New York City flagship location is coming at the right time. We are proud of the progress we've made to make Microsoft Stores the best place to go for Microsoft products like Surface Pro 3, Windows Phones, Xbox One and more, as well as a full lineup of accessories. Our passionate and knowledgeable store associates are building individual relationships with our customers and making sure each store is part of the fabric of the community that it operates in. Our Answer Desk experts can help you with all of your tech needs -- with numerous services for free".

While I am sure the rent is astronomical, being on fifth avenue guarantees a huge amount of foot traffic. Yes, many people will strictly be window shopping, but the goal is to convince consumers to buy once inside. Quite frankly, once someone sees and touches a Surface Pro 3 in person, it is hard to resist.

Sadly, it is not yet known when the store will have its grand opening, but one thing is for sure -- contests, giveaways and discounts will be plentiful. Hell, I recently covered an opening on Long Island and had a blast, leaving with an extremely discounted Xbox 360 and Dell Venue tablet.