Microsoft opening permanent store in SouthPark

A full-scale Microsoft store is coming soon to SouthPark, where it will compete with the mall's Apple store and hope to lure customers to buy products such as Surface tablets and Xbox One gaming consoles.

The new store will be 2,260 square feet, with 40-50 employees, and will be located in the Nordstrom wing of the mall. Mecklenburg building permits show the company is spending a good chunk of change to build the store, with contracts worth more than $3.3 million

Details from Microsoft were sketchy, but here's what the company has to say on its website about the new SouthPark store:

Look out, Charlotte

We're headed to SouthPark soon

Get ready to experience the Microsoft Store near you. Although we can't reveal too much now, we can promise a lot of fun – and dancing – during our Grand Opening.

The software, gaming and computer company has previously operated a kiosk in the mall. Microsoft is also opening a Durham store, in the Streets at Southpoint in August.

Microsoft has been gradually expanding its retail presence since 2009, when it opened its first store. The company now has about 100 full-line stores and smaller kiosks nationwide (full list here). Similar to Apple stores, they feature the company's latest tech products for customers to try out and feature an Answer Desk (the counterpart to the Genius Bar) for tech support.

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