The East Valley will host one of the first two Microsoft stores when the computing giant enters the retailing world this fall.

The Associated Press reported today that Microsoft announced a lease at Scottsdale Fashion Square, which does not have a competing Apple Store, and at The Shops at Mission Viejo in California, which does. Microsoft picked the locations because they’re “hot markets” with the right demographics, a spokeswoman said. The stores will sell laptop computers, Zune media players, Microsoft and third-party software and Xbox 360 games and consoles.

First Microsoft store to open in Scottsdale

October 16, 2009 - 3:07PM

In this combo made from product images provided by Microsoft Corp., packaging for the the versions of Microsoft Windows 7, Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate, is shown.

The Associated PressComputer software giant Microsoft Corp. will open the its first retail store Thursday at Scottsdale Fashion Square, officials say.

“We really feel that it’s time for us to get closer to the consumer,” said company spokeswoman Kim Stocks. “We have a billion people that use our technology around the world, yet we’re not always as close as we need to be to them. So, the stores will be that physical presence where people can come in and see our technology and talk to our employees and learn things.”

Stock said Redmond, Wash.-based company also has plans for a store Mission Viejo, Calif.

“It’s a hot market,” she said of Scottsdale. “We wanted to go into malls that had great customer demographics (and) great traffic that were high performing shopping centers, and Scottsdale (Fashion Square) fits that to a 'T'.”

Scottsdale Fashion Square is at Camelback and Scottsdale roads.