Verizon Wireless Opens New Retail Store in Lakeland

LAKELAND, FL — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless communications provider, has opened its newest retail store at 4120 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. The store is the company's first full-service retail store in Lakeland; Verizon Wireless also staffs a kiosk at Lakeland Square Mall.

A grand opening celebration is planned for Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20. There will be live remote radio broadcasts, free food and refreshments, a clown and face-painting for kids. Tampa Bay Buccaneers' tight end Dave Moore will be available at the store Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m. for autographs and photos. There will also be raffles both days for various Buccaneers items and a free Verizon Wireless digital wireless phone.

Jon Cox is the store manager for Verizon Wireless's Lakeland store. The store's telephone number is (863) 709-0834: its hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S.with 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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