AT&T announces new 10,000 square-foot flagship store in Chicago

This is actually pretty impressive: AT&T has just announced the upcoming opening of its new 10,000 square-foot flagship store on Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue. It’s said to be a beacon for the carrier’s “It’s what you do with what we do” campaign.

The location will house over 100 digital screens, including multitouch App Tables, and an 18-foot high Connect Wall that will show interactive content and product info. It will also showcase AT&T’s home automation and street services, and much more…

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjB8gp6PwKo[/tube]

According to the press release, customers will be able to:

  • Play and learn about apps that interest them in the Explorer Lounge. At the Apps Bar, “app-tenders” serve up one-on-one and group demos, which are also displayed on multiple video monitors on the Apps Wall. An 18-foot high Connect Wall shows interactive content and product information, visible to the entire store and passers-by.
  • See products, apps and accessories organized and showcased based on their needs in the Lifestyle Boutiquesincluding Get Fit, Be Productive, Share Your Life and Chicagoland. Chicagoland includes local apps and Chicago-themed accessories exclusive to the AT&T Michigan Avenue store.
  • Use and interact with AT&T products for home security and automation, entertainment, music and automobiles at the Experience Platform. Customers can see how AT&T Digital Life services can enable them to control their home using AT&T wireless devices with a demo in the Family Life area. The Street Smart area features a 2012 Nissan Leaf and shows the future of automotive connectivity, safety and efficiency.
  • View artwork from two artists with Chicago ties, Cody Hudson and Dalek, in The GalleryOne-of-a-kind smartphone cases with their designs are available exclusively at the AT&T Michigan Avenue store.
  • Check out the latest smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices in the product runway.
  • Discuss new purchases or resolve questions with AT&T store representatives in quiet and comfortable consultation areas.

So, it sounds like this is going to be one of the most technologically-advanced retail stores in existence. And since you can’t have cashiers checking people out on computers in a store like this, you better make sure they’re using an iPad POS.

And it looks like they are. 9to5Mac has obtained screenshots of AT&T’s new tablet-based Point of Sale system, which it says can do everything the older desktop computers could do, including plan changes and viewing customer account history.

It’ll be interesting to see how customers react to this new kind of setup. If they like it, we could very well see stores like this popping up in cities around the country. But until then, if you happen to be in Chicago, this particular location can be found at 600 North Michigan Avenue. And it’s store hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. -8 p.m.

What do you think of AT&T’s new take on retail?