SANTA MONICA—Verizon recently opened a new “Destination Store” at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. The store is only the fifth of its kind in the country.
By being home to one of Verizon’s Destination Stores, Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade joins the ranks of Boston’s Boylston Street and Minnesota’s Mall of America. Verizon has opened all five of its Destination Stores since 2015, including its other stores in Houston and Chicago.
The telecommunications giant promises a unique experience at their Destination Stores which are much larger and much more interactive than their typical stores. The Destination Stores include “lifestyle zones” in which customers can experience and learn more about products and services with a more hands-on approach.
Some zones, such as the Interactive Wall for games, the “Amplify It” zone for music and the “Anywhere Business” zone are common across the company’s five Destination Stores. Other zones are unique to the new Santa Monica Store. According to Verizon’s website, the “Customize It” zone is fitted out with a Hollywood themed selfie booth that allows customers to take selfies and create custom cases in the store.
In addition to the Customize It zone is the “Get Fit” zone, where visitors to the store can “Practice soccer shots with a ball that syncs to your smartphone and provides instant feedback on speed, spin, estimated distance and skill tips.” Also in the Get Fit zone is a stationary bike that works with technology to give you instant feedback on your exercise.
According to Verizon, the Santa Monica store was constructed using a variety of sustainable building materials to create a more environmentally friendly building, that is over 7,000 square feet.
Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade store opened to customers on July 1, but the store’s official grand opening will not be until July 18. Having already opened two Destination Stores this year, it is unclear whether or not Verizon plans on opening any more Destination Stores in 2015.
