Amazon is making a splashy return to physical retail, and Automatica Press has the scoop: the e-commerce giant is planning a massive, 225,000-square-foot big-box store in Orland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Forget those fleeting bookstore experiments; this is Amazon going all-in, potentially taking on the likes of Target and Walmart directly. Sources familiar with the plans say the store will dwarf even a Walmart Supercenter.
A Hybrid Retail and Fulfillment Powerhouse
This isn't just another Amazon Books. According to planning documents viewed by The Information, the new store aims to be a hybrid retail space and fulfillment center. Imagine browsing aisles of general merchandise and groceries while Amazon’s robots whir in the background, prepping online orders for delivery. “The proposed development will offer a wide selection of products, including groceries and general merchandise, with accessory services and potentially dining locations for prepared food sold onsite,” the documents state.
That sounds a lot like a next-generation Amazon Fresh, or even an entirely new concept that blends the best of physical retail with Amazon's logistical prowess. It's a bold move, especially after shuttering most of its physical bookstores and Amazon 4-star locations back in 2022. Could this be the start of a new era for Amazon's physical footprint, one where brick-and-mortar isn't just an afterthought but a core part of its strategy?
Beyond Groceries: A Direct Shot at Target and Walmart
While Amazon has been doubling down on groceries with Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh, this new big-box store signals ambitions beyond the supermarket aisle. The store aims to offer “general merchandise,” putting it in direct competition with retail giants like Target and Walmart. CNBC reports that this store would be larger than some Walmart supercenters.
Think about it: Amazon's online marketplace dominance combined with a physical store presence offering everything from groceries to electronics to apparel. Plus, the added convenience of online order fulfillment from the same location.