The Raspberry Pi Foundation opens a first physical retail location in Cambridge, UK, as it takes over a location on the first floor in the Grand Arcade shopping centre.
The store is styled after similar outlets from the likes of Apple and Microsoft, and is designed to give customers a more hands-on experience with the diminutive microPC. According to the makers of the Raspberry Pi, the idea behind the store is to "reach out" to customers with an interest in coding, making and electronics by showing off the capabilities of the device and ecosystem.
The walls of the store host no less than 6 booths demonstrating a Raspberry Pi project. These are used for training and education, and all consist of a Raspberry Pi with a breadboard and components. Customers use a keyboard and mouse to control the project while following instructions on a small touchscreen on the side.
Interestingly, the end of the store also has a "museum bar," a glass table containing notable devices such as the first Raspberry Pi, a blue Brazilian Pi, red Chinese Pi boards, a rare copy of The MagPi #40 with free Pi Zero and prototype models of Raspberry Pi boards and cases.