Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will open its first retail location in May

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has announced that its first physical retail location will open on May 9 in Burlingame, California. The company’s hardware items will be available for hands-on experience in the Meta Store. The 1,550-square-foot Meta Store will feature Meta’s first pair of smart glasses, designed by Ray-Ban. Look into Facebook’s Portal video chat devices as well.

“People will be able to see how our products can be used as a future gateway to the metaverse with the help of the Meta Store.” Martin Gilliard, Head of Meta Store, said, “We’re not selling the metaverse at our store.” “However, it’s possible that people will come in and leave knowing a little more about how our products will assist them in connecting to it.”

Meta recently announced that it would start testing capabilities for selling digital goods and experiences in Horizon Worlds, a virtual reality platform it launched late last year. Meta also announced a 47.5 percent fee for those who create digital experiences and materials.

“At the Meta Store, we want you to participate in everything.” We’re counting on you to keep up. “We want you to feel it,” the company said.

The store will only be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the time being. Meta’s gear can now be purchased online through a new shop link on the company’s website.

According to reports, Facebook’s Project Nazare initiative will introduce augmented reality glasses by 2024. The first model will be available in two years, with a “lighter, more advanced” model arriving in 2026 and a third model arriving in 2028.

Meta’s next AR glasses are expected to function without a smartphone. Like previous intelligent glasses, it will have an external camera, stereo audio, and the ability to connect to other users’ holograms. According to reports, it will run on Android and offer “full” AR, including 3D images and eye-tracking.