Google plans to open its first retail location in the United States in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, situated just around the corner from an Apple store, a new report suggests.
According toCrain's New York, Google will open an 8,000-square-foot retail location at 131 Greene St. If the reports are true, the store would also be across the street from eyewear company Warby Parker, which at one point was rumored to be helping design frames for Google Glass.
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The reports from VentureBeat didn't indicate when the store would open.
A Google store, especially in such a high-profile neighborhood, would be a bold move for the company and suggest a greater shift into hardware, including Google Glass and its Chromebook laptops.
This isn't Google's first foray into brick-and-mortar retail. The company has physical Android stores called "Androidland" in Australia, Indonesia and India to showcase its products. Meanwhile, Chromezone, a shop within a branch of Currys and PC World in London, became the first official retailer to sell Google's Chromebook laptop at a retail store. However, it has yet to invest heavily in storefronts.
While Apple has long had its own chain, other tech companies are quickly growing their retail divisions. Microsoft already has 63 locations and Samsung plans to launch 60 in Europe this year.
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