The Geek Squad is already on its way.
Monday afternoon dozens of Best Buy employees started the two-week long process of stocking the shelves and readying an outpost of the nation’s largest consumer electronics outfitter – accounting for almost 21 percent of the overall market.
According to General Manager Marcel Fehlmann, two teams will work on merchandising the store between now and February 27 when the first customers are welcomed into Manteca’s largest electronics outfitter – which faces little competition after the announcement that Circuit City will be closing all of its locations.
Somewhere between 60 and 80 employees ultimately will staff the store. Best Buy received more than 7,000 applications for employment when it was announced that they would be one of the anchors inside of the Lifestyle Outlets at Manteca (formerly Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley) – located off of Union Road near the Highway 120 Bypass.
“So far the best thing about being here in Manteca has been the people,” said Fehlmann – who will oversee the operation of his first store after serving as the assistant manager during openings in Pinole, Union City, and Emeryville. “About 90 percent of our employees are from Manteca, and since we started working in the store we’ve had somebody coming by every half-hour thinking that we’re open.”
Fehlmann said that they officially took over the building from the contractor on Sunday, and immediately began the process of readying the store for its grand opening date.
By Monday afternoon, workers were placing the first major load of product – numerous boxes of CDs – onto the shelves in their designated places.
While Manteca’s location won’t have a Magnolia Audio Video division inside the store that specializes in high-end electronics, they will offer all of the other services that Best Buy loyalists have grown accustomed to over the years – including the geek squad, home theater installation, and car audio installation.
The store’s location will likely make it a popular destination for those passing by on the Highway 120 Bypass and those spending time hitting the numerous destinations inside of the Promenade Shops.
“We’ve got a great location here, and we’re expecting a lot of foot traffic from people coming in for the Bass Pro Shops and the movie theater,” Fehlmann said. “With the freeway access we have here, it’s definitely going to draw in a lot of business.”
Plans are currently in the works for the Grand Opening ceremonies which will include a charity donation.
Once the store opens on the Friday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m., it will maintain their normal operating hours of Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Best Buy will officially be located at 934 Perimeter Drive, and customers will able to contact the store at the end of the month by calling 824-7855.
Monday afternoon dozens of Best Buy employees started the two-week long process of stocking the shelves and readying an outpost of the nation’s largest consumer electronics outfitter – accounting for almost 21 percent of the overall market.
According to General Manager Marcel Fehlmann, two teams will work on merchandising the store between now and February 27 when the first customers are welcomed into Manteca’s largest electronics outfitter – which faces little competition after the announcement that Circuit City will be closing all of its locations.
Somewhere between 60 and 80 employees ultimately will staff the store. Best Buy received more than 7,000 applications for employment when it was announced that they would be one of the anchors inside of the Lifestyle Outlets at Manteca (formerly Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley) – located off of Union Road near the Highway 120 Bypass.
“So far the best thing about being here in Manteca has been the people,” said Fehlmann – who will oversee the operation of his first store after serving as the assistant manager during openings in Pinole, Union City, and Emeryville. “About 90 percent of our employees are from Manteca, and since we started working in the store we’ve had somebody coming by every half-hour thinking that we’re open.”
Fehlmann said that they officially took over the building from the contractor on Sunday, and immediately began the process of readying the store for its grand opening date.
By Monday afternoon, workers were placing the first major load of product – numerous boxes of CDs – onto the shelves in their designated places.
While Manteca’s location won’t have a Magnolia Audio Video division inside the store that specializes in high-end electronics, they will offer all of the other services that Best Buy loyalists have grown accustomed to over the years – including the geek squad, home theater installation, and car audio installation.
The store’s location will likely make it a popular destination for those passing by on the Highway 120 Bypass and those spending time hitting the numerous destinations inside of the Promenade Shops.
“We’ve got a great location here, and we’re expecting a lot of foot traffic from people coming in for the Bass Pro Shops and the movie theater,” Fehlmann said. “With the freeway access we have here, it’s definitely going to draw in a lot of business.”
Plans are currently in the works for the Grand Opening ceremonies which will include a charity donation.
Once the store opens on the Friday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m., it will maintain their normal operating hours of Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Best Buy will officially be located at 934 Perimeter Drive, and customers will able to contact the store at the end of the month by calling 824-7855.
