Futuristic AT&T store opens in Clovis

AT&T’s “store of the future” has come to Clovis.

Last week marked the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the store at 1180 Shaw Ave., Suite 101 near Sierra Vista Cinemas 16. Those entering the store were greeted by an open floor plan, walls lined with flat screen monitors and a whole lot of technology.

“There’s been a lot of focus put on redesigning every element of this space in order to prioritize the customer experience,” said Jeni Bell, vice president and general manager of AT&T mobility sales. “It’s very different for the public, which makes it more important for us to do it really well.”

There are no cash registers, lines or waiting areas. The store is truly interactive, Bell said.

Customers are invited to sit in surprisingly comfortable orange and white stools at bar-height tables with charging stations. Or they can peruse the large display tables featuring the latest gadgets from fitness watches to tablets to projectors.

“It’s completely different from the way things used to be,” said Clovis store manager Mark Gregory. “It’s all interactive so you guys can try things, see things. So we’re not just telling you it’ll work, you can see that it will work for you. It’s quite a different concept and it’s a wonderful concept.”

One section of the store has a thermostat, coffee pot, lamp and security camera that employees can use to demonstrate AT&T’s Digital Life, a home security and automation service.

The music section of the store features bluetooth speakers and a mobile technology section allows customers to play with tablets, phones, projectors and more.

“This is really exciting for AT&T, as this store really represents all of the wonderful ways that our community, residents and citizens can come in and experience how technology can fit into their lifestyle,” said AT&T spokeswoman Julie Tone.

Mayor Nathan Magsig said AT&T has been committed to improving Clovis for many years and partnered with the city for its centennial celebration in 2012.

Magsig also noted Technopolis Clovis Core Committee, or TC3, was formed eight years ago by a group of citizens hoping to attract high-tech businesses and people to the city of Clovis.

“AT&T was a big sponsor of that because they see the value of technology,” Magsig said. “This committee helped us wrap around this theme of ‘technopolis,’ which is where we want to be a community where we create jobs, we create wealth and all of that is wrapped around technology.”

AT&T’s Store of the Future is a representation of that, Magsig said. The store will employ 40 people, 12 of which are newly-created positions.

As part of its grand opening and displaying its commitment to the community of Clovis, AT&T presented the Marjaree Mason Center, which has a location in Clovis, with a check for $25,000.

The Clovis Safe House and Community Center provides residential transitional living services to women and children in domestic violence crises.

This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Futuristic AT&T store opens in Clovis."