U.S. Cellular has moved into a brand new, bigger location it hopes will give customers a better shopping experience.

After about 20 years in the Crossroads Mall, the wireless company celebrated the opening of its 2925 Fifth Ave. S. store Monday.

“The store is a lot bigger,” said Retail Operations Store Manager Char D’Antuono. “We’re also adding new employees, so we will have a bigger team to better suit and serve the needs of our customers, so they will have a world-class experience with U.S. Cellular.”

The location is “is a very significant upgrade from our old store,” said Steven Hambleton, sales manager. “(It) has an interactive sales floor. Very bright, very welcoming environment.”

The expanded showroom features multiple phone bars to show off the latest phones and accessories offered. It also has a lounge area to encourage a more comfortable shopping experience.

“We will be having an interactive area, where customers can use, practice, and have hands-on with some of the new connected devices,” D’Antuono said.

And there are a lot of connected devices beyond just phones to try out.

“That world is just expanding like there’s no tomorrow,” D’Antuono said. “There’s just a world of new products coming. Connected devices are the way of the future, and we’re right there leading it.”

For example, the new store will feature a demonstration area for OnLook, a home automation and security system that can be operated from a phone or tablet.

“So you can turn off lights, shut your garage door, set up your security when you’re away from home,” D’Antuono said. “It’s wonderful for snowbirds.”

There are devices for small businesses to monitor vehicles too, she said, and track equipment.

Wait times will be lower as the sales team increases.

The store increased its staff to 15, D’Antuono said. Not only should this make the customer experience smoother, it will help the company give more back to the community.

The company does all kinds of events with the community, she said, such as veterans awareness and taking part in summer celebrations.

“U.S. Cellular does quite a bit of community service,” she said. “Some of the things they do are teacher appreciation. We go into the schools and provide breakfast or a light lunch for teachers in the area.”

The sales staff also has quite a bit of experience, D’Antuono said.

“One employee in particular, Roni McColley, was here when we opened the store the very first day in the mall, and she’s still with us,” D’Antuono said. “She’s been here 20 years.”

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.