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Google’s Store in Dublin Caters to Its Retail Ambitions
Neil Callanan | February 09, 2012

Google is planning to open a stand-alone retail store in Dublin. (AFP Photo) Google is planning to open a stand-alone retail store in Dublin. (AFP Photo)
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Google plans its first stand-alone retail store at its European headquarters in Dublin after a trial at a computer shop in London, according to a filing by the world’s most popular search engine.

The Google Store would be open to the public and sell unspecified Google merchandise, Google’s Irish unit said in a local planning application. Located in the Montevetro office block on Dublin’s Barrow Street, the store would have about 123 square meters of space including an added mezzanine floor designed to draw attention from passersby.

Retail may be a new front in Google’s competition with Apple, whose 361 stores have fueled sales of iPods, iPhones and iPad tablet computers. Google, the world’s biggest maker of smartphone operating software, is in the process of buying handset maker Motorola Mobility Holdings for $12.5 billion to help it compete with Apple’s phones and Microsoft Corp.’s mobile software.

“While we do have the option to open retail space, we are examining all potential uses,” the Mountain View, California-based company said on Wednesday in an e-mailed statement. “No final decision has been taken.”

Google opened a store inside a London branch of Currys and PC World, units of Dixons Retail, as a trial for selling laptop computers running the company’s Chromebook operating system, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported in October.

Google has a store selling products with a Google logo at its headquarters in California, which isn’t open to the public. The company also offers merchandise at www.googlestore.com, featuring merchandise such as baby bibs and notebooks with the Google logo.

The planning application, prepared by consultants John Spain Associates for Google Ireland, was approved by Dublin City Council on Jan. 23. The document also describes a staff swimming pool in an area designed for use as a restaurant. Google bought the two buildings that make up its existing headquarters in March for an undisclosed price.

Bloomberg