Comcast has been steadily replacing its traditional service centers with interactive Xfinity retail stores, and now the telecommunications giant is bringing the concept to the State College area.
The company is planning to open a new Xfinity store at 1801 N. Atherton St., the former site of Robert M. Sides Family Music Center, which moved to Aaron Drive earlier this year. Current plans target a December opening, according to Robert Grove, vice president of communications for Comcast’s Keystone Region.
When the new store open, the current service center at 60 Decibel Road will close. Grove said the seven service center employees have been offered positions at the new store, which will also hire an additional five staff members. Technicians will continue to operate out of the Decibel Road location. The service center at 325 E. Beaver Ave. will remain open.
Comcast’s legacy service centers have been largely ‘transactional,’ for things such as paying bills or picking up equipment, Grove said. Those services will still be offered at the Xfinity store, but customers also will be able to try out different cable, home automation and mobile products and ask for advice and answers from staff.
‘Xfinity stores give people a chance to interact with staff and interact with our products,’ Grove said. ‘All of those services and products, instead of just of just talking to someone about them, you can see them in action.’
In opening the new stores, Grove said the company has been selecting areas where customers are already going for shopping and entertainment. The more experiential store — which at North Atherton Street is 4,100 square feet — is designed by product area. Those include Xfinity mobile, with a selection of mobile phones as well as data plans; X1 video platform; xFi WiFi service; and Xfinity Home, which combines security systems and home automation.
The new store also will have expanded hours, open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sundays.
‘It’s a much better customer experience,’ Grove said. ‘It’s a big difference. We’re very excited about opening this new Xfinity store in December.’
Artist’s rendering of Comcast’s Xfinity store concept exterior. Image courtesy Comcast
Artist’s rendering of Comcast’s Xfinity store concept interior. Image courtesy Comcast
