Google opens store, cafe at new center in California
Google is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the opening of a “Visitor Experience” center that includes its first brick-and-mortar store on the West Coast.
Located at the company’s Mountain View headquarters, the 10,000-sq.-ft. center is designed to provide visitors with an immersive experience that showcases Google as well as the local community.
In addition to a retail store where visitors can try out (and buy) the newest Google gadgets, it includes an events space that can also be used by community groups and non-profits, a café, a pop-up shop to showcase local businesses and an outdoor plaza with large public art installations.
Here are more details on some of the attractions:
•Retail Store: Visitors can browse and buy Pixel phones, watches and tablets, Fitbit wearables, Nest cameras and more, including limited brand merchandise, in the Google Store.
“Experts are also on hand to help you get the most out of our products, provide Pixel phone repairs and facilitate workshops,” the company said in a blog about the new center. (In 2021, Google opened its first permanent store, at its headquarters in downtown Manhattan. It was followed by a second New York City store, in 2022, in Brooklyn.)
•Café: The “Café @Mountain View” is Google’s first-ever public dining experience and features meals made with seasonal, locally harvested ingredients. Similar to its cafes for store employees, the operations of the public café are focused on tackling waste, reducing single-use plastics, conserving water and energy, and procuring goods responsibly, Google said.
•The Huddle: Google will offer an array of free events and workshops in the space, which is designed as a platform for community connections. Also, community groups and non-profits can reserve the space to hold their own meetings and events.
•Pop-Up Shop: The pop-up is a dedicated retail space for local makers to showcase their goods. Google is working with Moment from San Jose Made to curate a rotating selection of local vendors.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, Google will host its first “Community Day on the Plaza” at the new center. The event will feature a morning dance party, live music, food trucks, a makers-market, workshops and other family-friendly activities.
The Visitor Experience center is located at Google’s new Gradient Canopy building (2000 N. Shoreline Blvd.) and is open seven days a week, Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.