Google planning to open retail store in Dublin?
The search giant is considering selling its merchandise in a retail store at its European headquarters. Plans have been approved, but the company hasn't made a decision yet.
Google could open a new retail store at its European headquarters.
In November, the search giant filed a plan to open a retail store at its headquarters in Dublin's Montevetro office block, according to Bloomberg, which discovered the document on the Dublin City Web site. Based on the plans, it appears Google is considering opening a store that would span about 1,300 square feet.
The plans were approved by the Dublin City Council on January 23.
Google opened its first brick-and-mortar store last year in London. The store was a 285-square-foot "shop within a shop" where people could try out and buy Chromebooks, as well as a few accessories. However, that location was little more than an experiment, and Google only kept "The Chromezone" open for the three months leading up to Christmas.
"It is our first foray into physical retail," the company told the London Evening Standard last year. "This is a new channel for us and it's still very, very early days. It's something Google is going to play with and see where it leads."
Google hasn't committed to opening a store in Dublin just yet. Responding to CNET's request for comment, the company said: "We already have an online store selling things like Google T-shirts and pens. We have the option of a small space doing the same in our Dublin office but we've not made any decisions, it's simply a planning application."
Late last year, serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis reported that Amazon was also nearing the launch of its own retail stores. Earlier this week, more reports surfaced corroborating that report. Amazon has so far not commented on the possibility.
Still, that Amazon and Google are considering opening physical stores underscores their realization of how important the brick-and-mortar has become to one of their chief competitors, Apple. The iPhone maker currently operates more than 360 retail stores around the world, and according to data published late last year by ifoAppleStore.com, each Apple Store employee brings in $278 per hour in revenue. That's the kind of revenue opportunity both Google and Amazon would like to at least come close to matching.
Update 9:15 a.m. PT: Added comment from Google.