Microsoft is taking a bite out of Apple's playbook -- exactly what it said it would do two years ago.
The Bay Area will get its first taste of the software giant's recipe for retail when the first Microsoft Store in Northern California opens this Thursday at the Westfield Valley Fair mall in Santa Clara.
Not only will Microsoft be opening its first Bay Area store in Apple's neighborhood -- Steve Jobs put an Apple Store in the mall years ago -- but it will do it in glitzy Apple fashion.
In 2009 Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner said his company would open up retail stores "right next door to Apple."
Microsoft has since gone on to open stores across the country that promise to make your computer, software, Xbox and Windows Phone buying-experience that much easier.
But to help draw flys towards the light, Microsoft is putting on a show when it opens its new store Thursday.
The Black Keys will perform a free show at the mall Friday evening and Joe Jonas will play a second free show on Saturday.
While the shows are free, to get a ticket you have to be one of the first 200 people to walk through the new store's doors on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Microsoft is hoping the offer will entice music lovers to line up outside the store, much like they do when Apple releases a new product.
If music is not your thing, Thursday at 5 p.m. the Microsoft Store will host a Kinect tournament with 49ers' legendary quarterback Joe Montana. No advance tickets are required.
For more information on the opening of the Microsoft Store or to find out how to get tickets, visit Microsoft's website.
