Flushing residents and elected officials welcomed Best Buy to the neighborhood on Saturday, as the company celebrated the grand opening of its first store in the area. The popular electronics chain has joined BJ’s Warehouse as the second business to open in the newly renovated Sky View Center.

“We are very excited to be in Flushing,” Store Manager Michael Soto said. “Customers would always ask when we were opening up a store in this area and after a lot of hard work it has finally happened.”

Ranked the third most valuable retail brand in the United States, Best Buy now has six locations throughout the borough, along with their newest location in Harlem which also opened on Saturday.

With their newest store in a predominately Asian community, Best Buy has taken steps to attract local consumers. This includes adding exclusive products such as rice cookers, kimchee refrigerators, and a large array of kung fu and anime films.

Soto said the store is open to suggestions regarding the products it carries and will adapt depending on what customers want or need, a sentiment echoed by Best Buy Territory Eight Director Monica Hubbard.

“We are here to make people’s lives happier and better, not to just sell products,” Hubbard said.

In an effort to connect with the local community, Best Buy has looked to establish relationships with businesses and non-profit groups in the area.

That effort was on display Saturday as Best Buy executives presented representatives from the Chinese-American Planning Council, as well as Flushing Town Hall, with $5,000 checks.

The community has in turn embraced the new store, evident as approximately 50 customers lined the sidewalk outside in anticipation the doors opening.

Councilman Peter Koo and Assemblywoman Grace Meng also attended the grand opening.

“There are not many events my husband and son would come to early on a Saturday morning,” Meng said. “But they are here at Best Buy.”

In an effort to better serve its customers, Soto said all employees were required to participate in a day of team bonding exercises and training. Soto said how the employees work together and interact with customers would be vital for the store’s success.

“We put this staff together just one month ago,” he said. “I am excited to see the team deal with the public and go live for the first time.”

Construction of Sky View Center is expected to be completed in the summer of 2010. The other stores scheduled to open are Marshall’s, Staples, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Applebee’s, Chuck E. Cheese’s, Famous Footwear, Old Navy, Bob’s Discount Furniture and Sky Foods.