Large glass windows are in, the walls are painted white, and wooden tables are laid out. Google is ready to open its own Apple store in Manhattan's tree-lined Chelsea neighborhood, which will obviously carry Google products. The opening will be in the summer, and Google says it will sell hardware and services at this location.

And with its bags of products bulging, it probably makes more sense than ever for Google to open a store, which will also sell Pixel phones, Nest home hardware, and of course Fitbit activity tracking wearable products. Google is also taking a new step away from Apple and offering training courses to help people get the most out of its products.

Google clearly expects great demand, as it says it will limit the number of people who can shop at a time for health reasons. It also plans to require customers to wear masks and sanitize their hands. In addition, Google will clean the space regularly throughout the day.

Why is Google doing this? Who knows, but it doesn't sound like the start of an Apple-like retail empire. It is more likely that they have a bit of unused space in their Chelsea office and decided to take a stab at making some cash. As for the location, it makes sense to put it in Google's existing offices in the city. There are 11,000 Google staff there, and probably countless visitors would be eager to get their hands on the product.

Google says it is "a natural extension of our longstanding commitment to this city," but few decisions are made by companies that do not aim to make a profit. Certainly, it would be nice to bring some life back to New York City after the pandemic brought it out of crisis, but a single Google store is unlikely to bring life to a city with high commercial rents and many companies that have gone bankrupt in the past year.

Of course, it would be a useful learning experience for Google. If Google intends to expand its operations and bring its hardware products under one roof, a pilot store in New York makes sense. Lots of people come and go, Chelsea Market is nearby, and once you fill your bags with smart speakers and phones, you can enjoy the rest of the store.

Major tech companies often have their own branded stores. Both Samsung and Microsoft have tried retail stores in the past, with mixed results. Neither has reached the heights of Apple's retail experience. But if Google can pull this off, Apple may have some real competition.