GILROY
– As soon as one walks in through the doors and takes a look to
their right, it’s more than apparent that they’ve found themself in
a technological heaven.
GILROY – As soon as one walks in through the doors and takes a look to their right, it’s more than apparent that they’ve found themself in a technological heaven.
One can’t help but be attracted to the amazing display of plasma televisions that run against the wall and down several aisles of the brand-new, 30,000-square-foot Best Buy store – which will open its doors to the public for the first time today.
And with the advancement of high-tech TVs, laptops, PDAs and cell phones that are constantly getting smaller and faster, there’s finally a place in Gilroy that caters to the ever-changing field of home entertainment equipment.
The store features a large selection of name-brand consumer electronics, personal computers, home entertainment products, software and appliances, including the latest in digital technology.
“Technology is advancing and advancing, and it’s getting more affordable,” said C.J. Garcia, manager of the new store. “That’s what we’re passionate about, making the technology easy to get.”
Garcia is the leader of 150 new employees from Gilroy and Hollister that will help open the doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today.
“I was specifically brought on to open this store,” Garcia said. “The team we’ve managed to assemble is phenominal.”
The staff has worked for the last four weeks to turn what was little more than an empty building into a store that will pack nearly everything the usual 45,000-square-foot stores have.
The new Gilroy store incorporates the most recent Best Buy store design. Features of the new design include a single-line checkout and wider aisles for better traffic flow.
And Garcia got the staff to get the store ready in a short time in order to be opened for the upcoming holiday blitz.
“Always, the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest day of the year,”Garcia said. “When your grand opening is a week before that, we’re going to hit the ground running.”
This will be the 70th Best Buy store in California, and it is one of more than 60 new retail locations Best Buy is on target to open across the country in 2003. Currently, there are more than 590 Best Buy stores in 48 states, reaching an estimated 300 million consumers per year.
“No matter the size of your wallet, we’ve got something for you,” Garcia said.
Best Buy says it is dedicated to being a vital community partner. Through the Best Buy Children’s Foundation, the Company helps fund nonprofit organizations that make learning fun through innovative, interactive technology-based educational content and curriculum. The foundation also sponsors $2,000,000 in scholarships to ensure students have access to education.
Best Buy plans to make a $1,000 donation to the United Way with the ribbon-cutting today.
Children and families in the Gilroy area are now able to benefit from a number of Best Buy/nonprofit relationships, including those with the United Way, Junior Achievement and Toys for Tots. Nonprofit organizations that provide technology-based educational programs for students may also qualify for a grant from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation.
