Miley Cyrus fans invade Microsoft store opening in Bellevue

Microsoft opened its first retail store on its home turf Thursday morning to throngs of Miley Cyrus fans who lined up overnight for free concert tickets.

An estimated 1,000 people lined up for the opening at Bellevue Square mall. The store is giving out two free tickets to a Cyrus concert on Saturday to the first 2,000 people.

"It is just exciting as heck to have the seventh store open in our backyard," Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said before he cut the ribbon on the store and a curtain dropped to show 50 cheering store workers. "All of our stores are special, but this is the store I'm going to be in and out of most often."

Ballmer shook hands with the first people to enter the store.

People started lining up Wednesday afternoon and waited in the parking garage overnight. People had sleeping bags, stadium fold-out chairs and were playing cards and napping on the ground as of 8 a.m. Microsoft brought in a DJ and the Massive Monkees dancers to entertain people in line, as well as the Skillet food truck to serve dinner and breakfast.

Crissy Allen started waiting Wednesday at 2 p.m. with her son and her service dog. She came to get concert tickets for her son. "I'm here because my son is in love with Miley Cyrus. He said the only reason they're not engaged is because she hasn't met him yet."
She bought an Xbox 360 video game and said the store was "awesome." "I like that there's so much space between aisles. Wheelchairs can get through, my dog can get through. It just looks uncluttered and classy."