Microsoft to open Xbox 360 store in Times Square?

Ah yes, what's a game console without a flagship store? Looks like Microsoft is the next last to get into the game with plans to open an Xbox 360 store in New York City's Times Square. At least, rumour has it that they're looking into prime real estate for that purpose. And by prime they may indeed truly mean prime, as in the 18,000 square-foot space that is One Times Square. We're a little leery of concentrating those competing consoles in such a small area, and hope it doesn't turn into a modern day version of the Sharks and the Jets on steroids crack.

[Boston Squares @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Could that possibly be worth the money? What are they going to do with 18,000 feet? Is the XBOX 360 that big??

[Jay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Another Apple Wannabe.

Microshit never learns. Watch this go BOOM just like the xBox did! LOLLL

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

1 Times Square: http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=258732

I didn't actually think this was still vacant. But, one thing I would say is that despite the cachet of the address, this is actually not the best place to have a store in Times Square. It's not even technically in Times Square - this is the corner of 41st St. and 7th Ave. You can see how few people are walking around outside this building - the huge swarms of people you see in Times Square generally stay between 42nd and 50th Sts.

But it's not like MS would have a large number of choices if they want to open a store in this area. There is not a lot of prime real estate available. This may be all they can get, and it's probably actually somewhat cheaper than a comparable space 3 or 4 blocks up would be.

[J Chang @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

If this is true, I can see microsoft spending some pocket change to make the side of the building look like a giant xbox360...

[JW @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Whatever happened to Microsoft in San Francisco?

They were at the Sony Metreon until the release of the original Xbox

[MarkT @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

That building is empty.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Times_Square

[SuperChuck @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Hmmm... Does anyone ELSE sense a New Years Day launch?

[David Gilman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Jeff is confused.

1 Times Square is located between 42nd and 43rd, between Broadway and 7th.

You don't think people walk by this building? The photo you link to is the Broadway side, which gets ton of traffic. But the 7th Ave. side is insane. Millions of people walk by there, and then turn right onto 42nd to walk towards 8th ave.

The building is completely vacant. The last tenant on the ground floor was a DEA Museum (yes, that DEA). That closed back in March/April, I believe.

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

One Times Square is in Times Square. It sits between 42nd and 43rd Sts. Times Square was named after The New York Times built this building there.

[jork @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

i thought that a olive garden went in there in a while i live in jersy so im not an expert but it would be awsome to have a place to go that would actualy have a decent setup (sony store is crappy two screens of ps2 and very snoody suits) maby a place where u could go to play by charge like an xboxlive time card almost or somthig or just alot of screens running diffrent games and things that interact like psp ipod and o yha windows vista? ohh well we will have to see come by at the most october with constrution already underway for the japan site.

[Tacohead @ Dec 19th 2005 1:25AM]

Some pix of the store:
http://www.lowdown411.com/2005/12/nyc-xbox-store-construction.html