AT&T has opened a new 3,900-square-foot store in Covington.

The new store features a hands-on, interactive design to engage shoppers and provide a “try before you buy” service experience for the growing lineup of smartphones and tablet computers.

With the addition of the new store, AT&T has hired 10 new customer service associates.

“AT&T opened this new store to accommodate the growing consumer and small business demand for advanced wireless products and services in Covington,” said Mike Maxwell, vice president and general manager of AT&T Pacific Northwest in a press release. “From the moment shoppers walk through the door, we want them to have a superior experience as they learn how they can make the most of today’s technology to improve every aspect of their lives.”

“Customers coming into our new store are delighted with the convenient locations and the opportunity to interact with the wide selection of smartphones, tablets, and accessories,” said Mike Hanratty, AT&T Covington Store Manager in a press release. “AT&T is delighted to be in Covington to better serve our customers in this growing area and we look forward to becoming involved with the local community.”

This year in the Covington area, AT&T:

• Increased capacity by more than 50 percent along the Highway 167 corridor from Renton to Auburn.
• Expanded its mobile broadband network in Maple Valley and Ravensdale by enhancing three cell sites.
• More than two-thirds of the mobile broadband traffic in the Covington area is now running over  enhanced backhaul – or the fiber optic cables that connect sites to the overall AT&T network – to provide customers with speeds up to four times faster than AT&T’s mobile broadband network.

The new AT&T retail store in Covington is located at 27112 167th Pl. SE.

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

There are more than 45 AT&T owned stores in Washington.