A Look Inside AT&T's New Concept of User-Friendly Stores

The opening of AT&T's new store in La Grange not only introduces a new, savvy model that the rest of the company's stores are expected to follow. It also helps fill the old Borders Books building and give a positive economic impact the village has been waiting for. 

"It's certainly something we always aspire to in terms of having a full downtown," Village President Tom Livingston said at the store's grand opening Aug. 1. "The re-investment in this building has been great."

Neither Livingston nor economic development director Pat Benjamin had figures available Thursday as to what the projected sales tax would be coming from AT&T, but Benjamin said, "it should be a pretty significant bump. we would compare it to something like the Borders that was here."

At the grand opening, visitors were given tours to explain the new model, which focuses on an experiential retail concept that shows how AT&T's products can fit into daily routines such as television, travel, driving and more. 

"It really does break the mold of retail," Vice President General Manager Dave Fine said. "It puts the experience of how technology will enhance your lifestyle. We're building a world that allows people to mobilize everything. This entire store is built with the customer's experience in mind.

"To anchor this building, this is a tremendous sense of pride."

Borders Books closed in September 2011 and sat empty for a while as it was divided into several smaller spots for retail, dining and services. Now AT&T joins other tenants including ATI Physical Therapy and Massage Envy on the second floor and Great Clips and Smashburger on the main level. Orange Leaf Yogurt is also expected to fill a space in the building. 

But the new AT&T store is definitely the main attraction, and Livingston said it should be a draw well beyond the village.

"La Grange, because of its geography and business environment, is poised to be a destination for stores such as this," he said. 

FIND OUT: Why AT&T chose La Grange for its first new model of stores.