Solana opens physical store in New York City

Blockchain network Solana (SOL) has opened its first physical store Solana Spaces in New York City, where it will sell cryptocurrency-related products, according to a press release shared with CryptoSlate.

The store is located at The Shops, an upscale mall at Hudson Yard, Manhattan, and opens to the public on July 28.

The store features an NFT gallery with the Degenerate Apes Academy Collection hanging on the walls. It contains an interactive installation showing all transactions and processes on the Solana blockchain as they happen in real-time.

For those who are already in…can you remember how and when you not only learned about crypto, but decided to dive into the rabbithole? And Solana?

If you were like the creators of @solanaspaces, it started with a friend who pushed you to just give it a try.

— Solana Spaces (@solanaspaces) July 15, 2022

“Spaces is everyone’s first crypto friend,” the tweet announcing its launch reads. “Inside, you’ll learn how Solana works, what Web3 is. We’ll set you up with a wallet and your first NFTs and guide you through your first on-chain transactions.”

We also designed Spaces to be cultural centers, embassies for Solana. We’ll be an event host, a launchpad, and a purveyor of Solana culture – including a new set of merch, and frequent limited edition collaborations with brands in and outside of crypto.

Vibhu Norby, Solana Spaces CEO, explained that the major aim of the physical store is to educate people about crypto and onboard new entrants. It is “an experiment that we think a lot of people will love,” he added.

The store has different stations designed to attract crypto enthusiasts with new experiences. There is a private booth for people to set up their Phantom wallets and several stations to educate people about the various platforms on Solana, such as STEPN and Magic Eden.

Visitors to the store can also see the demo of Solana Saga, the crypto-friendly mobile phone that the blockchain network plans to release next year.

One of the early reviewers of the store, Taylor Locke of Fortune, mentioned that the store has several branded merchandise “labeled with phrases commonly used in the crypto community like the rallying cry “WAGMI,” as well as “degen,” “not financial advice,” and “probably nothing.”