The much-anticipated Best Buy store at 4500 Wisconsin Ave. in Tenleytown opened Friday.
The store, which sells movies, CDs, video games and appliances, is the first major electronics retailer in the District. It is also the only D.C. store among the 550 Best Buys nationwide.
Mayor Anthony Williams was present at the opening to mark the chain's first store in the District.
Many in the diverse crowd at Best Buy's grand opening Friday, including a handful of AU students, said they expect the store to breathe new life into the generally placid neighborhood.
AU senior Louis Scores said he was surprised to see how large the store was, considering its location in the densely populated city.
"It's the best thing to happen to Tenleytown since Chipotle," Scores said.
Junior Lindsey McDaniel agreed.
"There are a lot of people working here and they seem very anxious to help," McDaniel said as she admired the lastest "Sims" computer game. "I think this store will make me less rich."
Store manager Tyrone Bartoli was also enthusiastic.
Previously, Bartoli worked at a Northern Virginia location but said he likes the D.C. store better.
"We have really high expectations for the store," Bartoli said. "The surrounding neighborhood, including AU, seems excited about it."
Bartoli said he thinks the store will benefit the local economy, as many in the area are working at Best Buy.
Best Buy's building used to belong to the Hechinger's hardware store, which vacated the site in December 1999. It was built originally for the Sears & Roebuck Company.
Richard Lake of the Madison Retail Group, who is responsible for planning the site, said more developments could be expected in the future. This includes 209 condominiums currently under construction, which should be above the store by late 2004, according to Madison Retail's Web site.
Madison Retail has also entered into a lease with the The Container Store, a Dallas-based chain of outlets that sells storage units. According to Lake, The Container Store should open next to Best Buy by Fall 2004.
