Verizon Wireless Celebrates Grand Opening of Newest Communications Store in Harlem

NEW YORK, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the growing demand for the company's voice and data products and services, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest Communications Store at 166 West 125th Street in Harlem next week.

The new store is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store phone number is 212-531-1542. More than 15 full and part-time wireless professionals staff the 2200 square foot location.

Grand-opening festivities begin on Friday, February 9, at 10 a.m. with a Business Leaders reception in conjunction with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and special guest appearance by New York Mets Manager Willie Randolph will follow from 11 a.m. until noon.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include a $5,000 HopeLine(R) donation to the East Harlem Coalition Against Domestic Violence. A recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue, the Verizon Wireless donation was made possible through the company's HopeLine(R) phone recycling program.

"We are pleased to welcome Verizon Wireless to the community and to our membership," said Lloyd Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. "Their presence is an example of Harlem's economic vitality and a great employment opportunity for local residents. The company's HopeLine program also illustrates their long standing commitment to the community."

Store Manager Antoine Lewis is encouraging area residents to join the company in its efforts to help survivors of domestic violence by bringing no- longer-used wireless phones to the new store for donation to the HopeLine(R) phone recycling program. HopeLine collects used cell phones to be recycled or sold and donates the proceeds in the form of cash grants and pre-paid wireless handsets to advocacy groups such as the East Harlem Coalition Against Domestic Violence, for use by battered women. Verizon Wireless was the first wireless carrier in the nation to collect and recycle old cell phones, and has done so on behalf of survivors of domestic violence since January 1999 -- first in New York and then across the US.

On Saturday, February 10, WBLS radio will broadcast live at the store from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and grand opening festivities will wrap up on Saturday, February 17th with a live broadcast from WWPR from noon to 2:00 p.m.

The new store is staffed by knowledgeable wireless professionals who offer consumers a broad range of equipment and services including the popular Chocolate phone, a Verizon Wireless exclusive; VZ Navigator, which provides audible turn-by-turn directions; and V CAST Music which allows customers to download full songs directly to their V CAST-capable wireless phones and Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP-based PCs.

Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued last year when the company added nearly eight million new customers, more than any other wireless carrier. Verizon Wireless now serves more than 59 million customers nationwide.

The Harlem Communications Store is the fourteenth to open in Manhattan and one of 139 Verizon Wireless retail locations in the New York Metro area.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.