Google Inc. (GOOG) may open its first stand- alone retail store at its European headquarters in Dublin, according to a filing by the world’s most popular search engine. 

The Google Store would be open to the public and sell unspecified “Google merchandise,” Google’s Irish unit said in a local planning application. Located in Dublin’s Montevetro office block, the shop would include about 123 square meters (1,323 square feet) of space with an added mezzanine floor extension.

“While we do have the option to open retail space, we are examining all potential uses,” the Mountain View, California- based company said today in an e-mailed statement. “No final decision has been taken.”

Retail may be a new front in Google’s competition with Apple Inc. (AAPL), whose 361 stores have fueled sales of iPods, iPhones and iPad tablet computers. Google, the world’s biggest maker of smartphone operating software, is in the process of buying handset maker Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. for $12.5 billion to help it compete with Apple’s phones and Microsoft Corp.’s mobile software.

Google opened a store inside of a London branch of Currys and PC World, units of Dixons Retail Plc, as a trial for selling laptop computers, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported in October.

California Store

Google has a store for its merchandise at its headquarters in California, which isn’t open to the public. The company also offers its merchandise at www.googlestore.com, featuring everything from baby bibs to notebooks with the Google logo.

The planning application, prepared by consultants John Spain Associates for Google Ireland Inc., was approved by the Dublin City Council on Jan. 23. The document also describes a staff swimming pool in an area designed for use as a restaurant.

Google’s Dublin office is its largest location outside of the U.S., according to the filing. It purchased the Montevetro site in April for about 100 million euros from Real Estate Opportunities Plc. (REO) Google will have more than 3,000 employees in the Dublin area after it expands into the building and refurbishes its existing headquarters across the street, according to the document.

<한글 기사>

"구글, 첫 소매점 개장 한다"

세계적인 검색엔진 구글이 아일랜드 더블린에 있는 유럽본부에 최초로 일반인을 상대로 하는 소매점을 열 준비를 하고 있다.

구글 유럽본부는 소매점 개장에 필요한 서류를 당국에 제출했으며 더블린 시위 원회는 지난달 23일 이를 승인한 것으로 확인됐다.

구글 측은 이메일을 통해 "구글 소매점이 다양한 물건을 판매할 수도 있을 것"이라고만 밝히고 소매점 설치와 관련해 아직 최종결론이 나오지 않았다는 점을 강조 했다.

관측통들은 애플이 세계적으로 361개 직매점을 두고 활발한 사업을 전개하는 가운데 구글도 드디어 본격적으로 소매 사업에 뛰어들 것으로 보고 있다. 구글은 현재 인터넷상에서 구글 로그가 들어 있는 다양한 제품을 판매하고 있다. 또 미국 캘리포니아 본사에 소매점을 두고 있으나 외부인은 접근할 수 없다.