Off the back of announcing its plans to integrate NFTs into Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s hype for Web3 has now spilled over into the physical realm, as it has launched its first metaverse-centric store. According to social media conglomerate, the new 1,500-square foot retail space will serve as a touch point for creating a new class of customers that may not’ve been acquired online.
The blonde wood shelving of the store currently hosts three next-level tech experiences for customers. The Quest Two virtual reality (VR) headset offers an array of different VR experiences, the Ray-Ban X Meta Smart Glasses allow customers to capture social media-ready photos and videos, and the ‘Portal’ showcases the next era of video calling devices.
The store is located close to the company’s Reality Labs Headquarters in the city of Burlingame, California, which is less than 20 miles from downtown San Francisco. According to Martin Gilliard, Head of Meta Store, the store’s unusual, non-commercial location hasn’t appeared to deter tech enthusiasts from making a visit. In fact, he stated that its isolated whereabouts has made it ‘stand out’.
For now, it is unclear whether Meta will follow in the footsteps of Amazon by rolling out more permanent or pop-up physical stores. However, we can firmly assume that its Burlingame location will remain a hot-spot for testing out all of the upcoming metaverse-fuelled tech which the company will be launching in the coming months and years.