Matt Charnok/InsiderThe Meta store's ambiance had brief echoes of the Apple Store locations we've all come to synonymize with quality and consumer-product fit.
But in the end, after perusing the interactive gadgets for about 30 minutes and chatting with a few more employees, I left the store feeling rather ambivalent and underwhelmed — a classic case of something that didn't quite live up in-person to the online hype. Redecorating the store to not make it feel like it was pulled from a 2019 Ikea catalog would add a touch of true uniqueness.
Overall, Meta's first retail location felt more like a glorified Best Buy display counter than anything else, and I don't feel the need for another visit anytime soon.
Matt Charnock is editor-in-chief of The Bold Italic and weekend editor for SFist and Hoodline. When he's not buried deep in his Google Drive, you can find him exploring any one of San Francisco's many parks and iconic staircases.