Just when you thought the economic slowdown and parent Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel’s own troubles may result in more leaner thinking on the company’s part, well: Boost Mobile, the MVNO owned by it and aimed at edgy, urban youth markets, has opened the first of its three owned retail stores, in Huntington Park, CA, Hialeah, FL and in Houston, TX. Besides the phones and service, the stores sell headphones and lifestyle accessories as well....some pics of these “lifestyle accessories” here on the company blog. Hope these don’t become like the deserted Helio stores…

Meanwhile, last week, Boost appointed a new SVP and GM, Matt Carter. He replaces Don Girskis, who left Boost to join ShoreTel as SVP of worldwide sales. Boost ended the first quarter with about 4.4 million customers. In this WW story, Carter said has no plans to “mess up” a good thing..."We don’t want to corporate-ize it...It’s a great culture. The parent company appreciates what it has … As a company, we view Boost as a real boost to the Sprint culture.” Some more details here.