First Xfinity Experience Center in Minnesota Debuts in Roseville

Comcast Corp. is celebrating the debut of its Xfinity Experience Center in Roseville, the compay's first new format store in Minnesota, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday (Oct. 5) morning. 

Located at 2480 Fairview Ave. in Rosedale Commons, the Xfinity Center is a demonstration showroom designed to give customers the chance to try out the store's interactive, retail products and services.

The nearly 3,000 square-foot Roseville store-whose sleek feel is similar to that an Apple Store-has interactive touchscreen displays for such product categories as  Xfinity Home, Comcast's new home security and premise management system.  The store had a soft opening in late August.

David Tashjian, vice president of sales and marketing for Comcast Twin Cities, told Patch his company chose Roseville for its first Minnesota Xfinity Center location because of its reputation as a "high retail traffic area." Rosedale Commons is across the street from Rosedale Center, one of the Twin Cities' leading regional shopping centers

Tashjian said Comcast will also have a Xfinity Experience Center store in Richfield and is planning several other Twin Cities locations. Comcast tested the new retail format in a few test markets about three years and in the last 12 to 18 months has stepped up its rollout across the country, he said. 

Tashjian said a key driver behind developing the new Xfinity format is to provide better customer service and making its stores more user-friendly.

“This new type of retail showroom offers an improved customer experience as we apply the same mindset of innovation, speed and value that our customers love about our products to our walk-in stores,”  Tashjian said.
So far, customer response has very positive, he said, noting, "People like the look and feel of it (Xfinity Experience Center)."

Tashjian said another feature of the new retail format is staffing the stores with sales consultants, who have received increased training in the company's products and services.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Friday

Meanwhile, if you want to attend Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, make sure you get to the store at 8 a.m.

Elected officials and community leaders expected to attend include Roseville Mayor Dan Rose;Julie Wearn, Roseville Visitor's Association;Elisa Rassmusen, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce; Barb Haake, a commissioner with the North Suburban Cable Commission and Blake Huffman, of the North Suburban Cable Commission

Store Celebration Saturday

Then, the new store will host a grand opening celebration from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.  

The event includes appearances by Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart and KFAN personality Justin Gaard, along with face painters, kids crafts, free food and a drawing for a free iPad. 

The Xfinity's store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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