By
Bhushan Akolkar
April 25th, 2024
Meta explained that the Meta Store has an interactive Quest 2 display wall.
Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: FB), is opening its first physical store to sell metaverse-related products. Tagged Meta Store, the company said the retail store would open in Burlingame, California, on the 9th of May. The company’s intention for the store is for people to enter, “pick stuff up,” try them, and experience all its hardware products. Some of the Metaverse-focused hardware available in the store include Meta Quest 2. Others are the Portal, Ray-Ban Stories, and smart glasses.
In the official press release, Meta said shoppers could experience Portal through interactive demos by placing video calls to retail associates with Portal. They can also explore features like Story Time and see how Smart Camera works. Also, anyone who visits Meta Store will learn how Ray-Ban Stories make it possible to stay present with the ongoing events in the surrounding environment. There are also varieties of lenses, colors, and styles to try as preferred. Additionally, the Quest 2 demo scouts the magic of virtual reality. Meta is also making it easier to shop Portal, Quest, and Ray-Ban Stories online.
The Head of Meta Store, Martin Gilliard, commented:
“Once people experience the technology, they can give a better appreciation for it. If we did our job right, people should leave and tell their friend, ‘You’ve got to go check out the Meta Store.'”
The Meta Store
Meta explained that the Meta Store has an interactive Quest 2 display wall. Meanwhile, the immersive Quest 2 space has a wall-to-wall curved LED screen. Guests who visit the store can see Real VR Fishing, GOLF+, Beat Saber, or Supernatural in their headsets, which will also display on the screen. Also, people who visit the metaverse physical store will get a 30-second mixed reality of their demo experience.
Furthermore, Meta noted the need to establish its first brick-and-Mortar store near its Reality Labs headquarters. Gilliard said the store location would allow the company to experiment and use customers’ experience in its metaverse development. Speaking further, the executive said the utmost purpose of the Meta is to familiarize people with the hardware. The Head of the new physical Store noted further:
“The Meta Store is going to help people make that connection to how our products can be the gateway to the metaverse in the future. We’re not selling the metaverse in our store, but hopefully people will come in and walk out knowing a little bit more about how our products will help connect them to it.”
Once it opens on the 9th of May, the retail space will operate every Monday to Friday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm PT. Interested buyers can purchase Quest 2, Quest 2 devices, and Portal devices from the store. For Ray-Ban Stories, a retail associate will need to place a direct order from Ray-Ban.
Currently, at extended trading hours, Meta stock is down 0.27% to $186.49.