A new Microsoft store located at Destiny USA will have its grand opening on Thursday morning.

On Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new store, along with a presentation of about $1 million in technology grants to different organizations such as Arc of Onondaga, AccessCNY, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, On Point for College and YWCA of Syracuse and Onondaga County Inc., said Jonathan Adashek, the general manager of communications strategy for Microsoft Stores.

The chair of the public relations department at Syracuse University, Rochelle Ford, said in an email that these huge grand openings are another way to get people to come into the store, buy a product and get as excited as they are about it.

“Just like when someone has a baby, buys a house or is getting married, they celebrate it,” Ford said.

To celebrate the opening of the new store, there will be a variety of activities taking place that include celebrity appearances and discounts on Microsoft products.

Adashek said in an email that in the past, there has always been a strong turnout at Microsoft store openings, adding that he expects the same thing at Destiny USA.

“We have a loyal customer base and Microsoft fans that are excited about the new store here in Syracuse,” Adashek said. “We expect community members of all ages to come out for the opening and know it will be a great family-friendly event.”

There are currently 95 Microsoft stores across the United States, according to Microsoft’s website. Another eight stores, including the Destiny USA location, are categorized as “Coming Soon.” There are seven Microsoft stores in New York with the closest being in Buffalo.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, former NFL and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly’s appearance had to be postponed to Jan. 10, 2015, but Thurman Thomas, another former NFL player who played on the Bills at the same time as Kelly, will be at the opening of the store. Kelly was inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame in 2002, while Thomas was inducted five years later in 2007. Those in attendance will have the chance to meet Thomas, Adashek said.

According to the store’s Facebook page, customers can still get tickets at the store on Thursday for Kelly’s January appearance.

Syracuse University alumnus Larry Hryb, also known as Major Nelson and the director of programming for Xbox, will be at the opening of the Microsoft store to cut the ribbon and play Xbox games with fans from 7–9 p.m. on Thursday.

Yuliana Holguin, a junior studying psychology on the pre-medical track at SU is currently in search of a new laptop. She said she plans on looking around the Microsoft store before deciding on what to buy.

Ford, the chair of public relations at SU, said she believes that compared to Microsoft, Apple has created a brand identify that young people find “hip, progressive, new and innovative.”

“PC’s were business in orientation,” Ford said.  “However, I think that is changing as Droids and Microsoft have made the PC experience better and cheaper.”

Published on November 13, 2014 at 12:15 am

Contact Lauren: lmdoyle@syr.edu