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Meta plans to open its first Meta Lab retail boutique at Tysons Corner Center in June, bringing its artificial intelligence-powered glasses and virtual reality products to the mall.
The Facebook parent company is seeking Fairfax County building permits for a 136-square-foot kiosk on the mall’s second level. Building plans reportedly place it near the PenFed Plaza entrance, between Victoria’s Secret and Zara’s newly expanded store.
Meta Vice President of Retail John Koryl confirmed the company’s anticipated June opening. Tysons Corner Center said it was unable to comment on the potential location.
The boutique will give shoppers a place to test Meta products, much as Apple’s stores allow hands-on demonstrations. Apple notably launched its retail-store concept at Tysons Corner Center.
Meta Labs feature Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, Meta Quest virtual reality headsets and other wearable devices. The glasses include Bluetooth speakers, lenses designed to adapt to surrounding light and built-in cameras. Users can take calls, capture photos and videos, and access Meta’s AI features.
The technology has also prompted privacy concerns. Meta has reportedly built facial-recognition capabilities into the glasses while publicly saying it was still considering whether to introduce the feature.
At the same time, the glasses have been praised for assisting people who are blind or have low vision. Their auditory feedback can help users understand and navigate their surroundings.
Meta operates flagship Meta Labs in New York City and Los Angeles, with additional locations in Honolulu, Las Vegas and Burlingame, California.
The company has also explored opening a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot showroom in Georgetown. It remains unclear whether that search is continuing or whether the smaller Tysons kiosk will become a permanent location or serve as a temporary pop-up ahead of a larger Washington store.