Preview: Microsoft to open its largest store to date at NorthPark Center

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Jake Dean

The new 5,323 square-foot Microsoft store has a corner first-floor location below the AMC movie theater.

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Danielle Abril

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

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Microsoft will open its largest store in the nation this weekend at NorthPark Center in Dallas.

The 5,323 square-foot store is located between Nordstrom and Macy's, catty-corner to the Apple store a few shops down. The store, which is lined with a row of screens embedded into its walls, represents Microsoft's 106th in the nation and 10th in Texas.

"NorthPark was a place we wanted to be in for a long while, said store manager Mike Williams, adding that it was initially discussed when Microsoft was working to open its first five stores in the nation. "We just couldn't find the right deal. But right now is the perfect time to be here."

The official grand opening ceremony is slated for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by a 1 p.m. concert featuring Tim McGraw and The Band Perry in NorthPark's parking lot.

As part of the opening, Microsoft is also donating a software grant to community organizations more than double the size of its usual amount. The company's technology grants totaled about $2.13 million and were given to groups including the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Communities Foundation of Texas and the American Heart Association.

The store carries some of the newest products including HP's Sprout, a PC with built-in project screen and touch pad, only available in 20 of Microsoft's stores; the Microsoft Band, which has various capabilities including GPS, heart rate monitoring and sleep quality tracking; and the latest smartphones including Microsoft's Lumia line and Blu Win HD, which can load SIM cards from two different carriers.

The store also has a living room area, where shoppers can play with the Xbox One and try various demos; a theater, which is designated for business training sessions and special events; and its answers desk, where customers can go to check out or find more information.

The store offers free computer tune ups and free virus removals. It also will work on computers and tablets of any make and year, Williams said.

Danielle covers technology, retail, restaurants and hospitality for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our new TechFlash email newsletter.