Is Samsung Planning Retail Stores?

Online sites that follow consumer electronics trends are reporting that Samsung USA (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) is planning to open its own retail stores following the model of Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.).

The proof, says the blogosphere, is the alleged hiring of architect and store planner Tim Gudgel, who has worked for Apple and also for Frank Gehry at Gehry Partners LLC (Los Angeles).

In the U.S., Samsung’s current retail initiatives have mostly been limited to the nearly 1500 “Samsung Experience Shops” in Best Buy stores.