Key Takeaways
- On November 8, Meta will launch a pop-up shop in Los Angeles that will feature Ray-Ban Meta Glasses through December 31.
- The pop-up showcases performers and activities that celebrate lowrider and do-it-yourself culture.
- To assess possible future retail locations for Ray-Ban Meta spectacles, Meta uses pop-ups.
On November 8, Meta will launch “Meta Lab,” a pop-up store in Los Angeles that will include its Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.
Until December 31, customers can try on the spectacles and personalize their cases at the store. Additionally, Meta Lab will host creator-led events, including live podcasts, comedy shows, and cooking lessons.
Open daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm PT, Meta Lab is located at 8600 Melrose Avenue. Holiday hours for Black Friday and Christmas Eve are from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. On Christmas Day, December 3, and Thanksgiving, it will be closed.
Highlights of Meta Lab in LA Regional Style and Culture
The Meta Lab experience at Connect 2024, where Meta debuted transparent Ray-Bans, is expanded upon at the Los Angeles location. The business claims that more than 90% of Connect participants went to Meta Lab, and even though they already owned Ray-Ban Meta glasses, more than one in four of them bought something.
Meta Lab provides “a taste of the local culture and community” and allows customers to try on the glasses. With artists like Estevan Oriol, the LA store will promote lowrider culture in the first part, while Tierra Whack and others will demonstrate DIY style and upcycling in the second phase.
Future Plans and the Pop-Up Strategy for Ray-Ban Glasses
Smart glasses have been supported by pop-ups and retail establishments. For example, Snap Spectacles uses vending machines, while Focals by North offers mobile pop-ups and a Brooklyn location for fittings. The Verge claims that the pop-up’s brief existence until December 31 is probably due to the high expense of permanent spaces for up-and-coming tech, particularly in pricey cities.
According to Matt Jacobson, Creative Director for Augmented Reality at Meta, the Meta Lab project was organized into three stages, beginning in February 2024. The pop-up at Connect was the first stage; the temporary flagship store in Los Angeles is the second; and a shop-in-shop in Phoenix is the third, which will open at the end of January. By that month, Jacobson said, they will have tested all three experiential retail formats.
In order to assess the possibility of permanent retail locations for Ray-Ban Meta spectacles, Meta has not confirmed any more pop-ups.
