Google Store is coming to San Diego.<\/p>\n
The tech giant will open its first brick-and-mortar store in San Diego at Fashion Valley this summer. Shoppers will get to try out, in person, Google\u2019s devices and products, including Pixel phones, watches and tablets, Nest cameras and Fitbit fitness trackers.<\/p>\n
Leila Ginsburg, Fashion Valley\u2019s director of marketing, described it as a \u201cnext-generation shopping experience\u201d and said the mall is \u201cexceptionally proud\u201d to welcome the store.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs San Diego\u2019s premier destination for retail, dining, and innovation, we are continuously evolving the experiences we offer to both residents and visitors alike,\u201d Ginsburg said in the news release. \u201cGoogle\u2019s arrival at Fashion Valley introduces a dynamic high-tech hub that complements our luxury and lifestyle offerings and reinforces our position as the place where the world\u2019s most influential brands connect with consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Camacho, a senior program manager at Google, said San Diego offers a fitting home for a Google Store.<\/p>\n
\u201cSan Diego is rich with creativity, tech enthusiasts, and people who embrace innovation, just like Google,\u201d Camacho said.<\/p>\n
With this leap into brick-and-mortar stores, Google joins many other companies, in both the technology and retail spaces.<\/p>\n
Forbes<\/a> reported that fashion e-commerce brands Dolce Vita, Skims and Revolve have opened physical stores, a move backed up by data and predictions that demand for offline shopping is strong and growing. Forbes cited a report that says 72% of total U.S. retail sales will occur in brick-and-mortar stores into 2028, according to Forrester research. Already 64% of Gen Z consumers, or shoppers born between 1997 and 2012, prefer in-store shopping, a survey<\/a> by L.E.K Consulting found.<\/p>\n \u201cThe in-person shopping experience is key for our customers, and opening our first dedicated retail store in San Diego at Fashion Valley provides an invaluable opportunity for us to deepen our relationship with our users,\u201d Camacho said. \u201cThis new location gives the community a place to truly experience the magic of our products and see how Gemini works best on Pixel.\u201d<\/p>\n Other tech companies to venture offline include Meta, which earlier this month opened a flagship store in West Hollywood, and Netflix, which opened its first \u201cNetflix House\u201d entertainment retail center in Philadelphia this week.<\/p>\n Amazon has also opened brick-and-mortar stores, and it acquired the Whole Foods grocery chain. But its CEO, Andrew R. Jassy, told investors recently that physical shopping presents both \u201ca significant opportunity\u201d and a fleeting one.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are multiple places where we can expect to continue to grow,\u201d he said. \u201cOne is in our stores\u2019 business.\u201d Around \u201c80% to 85% of (retail) lives in physical stores. And that equation is going to flip over time. And I think AI is going to only accelerate that.\u201d<\/p>\n The first retail Google Store opened in 2021, in New York City. San Diego will be its 10th location.<\/p>\n