By Tammye McDuff
Thousands of loyal customers lined the walk ways of Los Cerritos Center, Saturday, November 22nd for the opening of the 111th Microsoft retail store in North America. The opening marked the 13th in the state and the eighth in Southern California.
Store Manager, Ramie Javed told HMG-CN in an exclusive tour the day before their grand opening, “we are super excited to be here in this community, the closest store we have is in South Coast Plaza which is 40 minutes away.”
The new location is located on level one, with a sales floor of over 1,807 feet. Javed told HMG-CN, ”we have some outstanding deals, and are very excited to showcase them and offer our customers some pre black Friday deals.”
Microsoft has already begun to reach out to the community with technology grants of nearly $2 million dollars.
The Youth Science Center received $50,000, Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board received $150,000, YMCA of Greater Long Beach was given $320,000, and the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation accepted $550,000.
Jonathan Adashek, General Manager of Communications for Microsoft also attended the HMG-CN exclusive preview said, ”we are here to create relationships with our customer’s one at a time, technology is not one size fits all.”
Adashek praised the newly organized Cerritos team, noting they had been training for months for the opening. The team will be able to explain the nuances of technology as well as the latest devices, products and services Microsoft offers. Adashek stated, “if you don’t have great customer service, you can’t expect great customers. We are here to be an integral part of the community and we are here for the long haul.”
A special concert was held in the Los Cerritos Center parking lot featuring Kelly Clarkson. The retail store team was able to provide the first 1,000 customers with a pair of complimentary tickets to the concert, with the first 100 lucky customers getting the opportunity to meet and greet with Clarkson following the concert. Several very fortunate attendees received guitars signed by Clarkson. The singers first set took on Little Big Town’s soulfully slinky “Girl Crush.” The track, which taps into female attraction and adoration, is featured on the country newly-released album Pain Killer.
Steven Guggenheimer, Microsoft CVP and Chief Evangelist and Mark Simons, President and GM Toshiba America Information Systems were onsite, cutting the official ribbon to open the store.
Microsoft is awesome!!!
Still need a store equivalent to Fry’s Electronics, (Anaheim/Hunt Beach) and steak/chops restaurant compared to Lawry’s.
How come mall does not support Soup Plantation Restaurant, as tired of driving to Lakewood Mall?