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It’s amazing that the Microsoft Store lasted as long as it did. It was a vestige of the era when Microsoft wanted a piece of anything else that seemed successful, and never made sense. That said, they may have been the nicest PC-centric stores ever. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/26/microsoft-to-close-retail-stores.html
I wrote a LOT about Microsoft Stores for awhile. Here I am arguing that it isn’t a unifying concept for a retail establishment, https://www.technologizer.com/2009/02/14/a-microsoft-store-um-isnt-that-kind-of-like-a-procter-gamble-store/
Later, when Steve Ballmer was expanding the chain, I helpfully explained why he shouldn’t. https://www.technologizer.com/2011/04/07/save-your-money-steve-five-reasons-why-we-dont-need-more-microsoft-stores/
I also wrote about the original Microsoft store, MicrosoftSF, which predated the Apple Store! https://www.technologizer.com/2009/10/20/1999-microsoft-store-vs-2009-microsoft-store/
Eventually, when I actually got to a Microsoft Store in person, I found it to be quite nice. https://techland.time.com/2012/02/27/the-microsoft-store-surprisingly-pleasant/
And I eventually concluded that the Microsoft Store’s niceness was out of whack with the PC industry’s traditional lowest-common-denominator dynamic. https://techland.time.com/2013/12/10/sadly-the-pc-industry-doesnt-deserve-a-place-as-nice-as-the-microsoft-store/
I bought a few things at the Microsoft Store in the San Francisco Center, and usually stopped by to browse when I was in the building and had the time. I won’t quite miss it, and it makes sense for it to go away. But I’m glad it existed.
I shall end this eulogy by retweeting some of my old Microsoft Store tweets.
