Meta Opens Retail Flagship in New York

Facebook parent Meta (Menlo Park, Calif.) has opened a retail space at 697 Fifth Avenue in New York. Dubbed the Meta Lab New York, the retail complex occupies the entire five-level, 15,000-square-foot townhouse building that sits adjacent to the base of the St. Regis Hotel. (You can’t miss it; the building’s exterior bears Meta blue from top to bottom — see the image gallery below.)

Meta’s presence in the building was announced by building owner Vornado Realty Trust, which said the high-tech giant signed a 10-year lease for the building. The news release introducing the lab described it as “a people-first experiential retail space that reimagines traditional shopping as a celebration of community, culture and creative self-expression.

“Designed for hands-on discovery, Meta Lab invites visitors to experience Meta’s leading AI glasses and virtual reality headsets, making it easy to understand how the technology works and imagine how it fits into everyday life. Each location is shaped by its neighborhood, co-created with local artists and communities around distinct creative themes, and brought to life in an authentic, welcoming space.”

Said Matt Jacobson, Meta’s VP and Creative Director, Wearables, “We’re proud to make a long-term commitment to Fifth Avenue, the heart of U.S. retail. Placing our flagship store alongside the brands that help define culture will distinguish Meta Lab from traditional consumer electronics retail. There’s no better home than NYC to innovate on retail, and we’ll continue to celebrate the community while making our products easy to see, try and understand.”

Meta said it has been a part of New York’s business and civic community since 2007. In 2020, the company leased 730,000 square feet comprising all the office space in The Farley Building in Vornado’s Penn District. The location serves as its New York headquarters and as a hub for its tech and engineering teams.

This is the company’s second Meta Lab; the first is in Los Angeles. Meta also operates a retail location in Burlingame, Calif. and recently launched pop-up boutiques in Las Vegas and Honolulu. Meta also said it plans more retail locations later this year but didn’t provide any specifics.