Amazon is planning a Super Amazon-mart store near Chicago
Amazon could be taking another, even bigger swing at physical stores, this time with a Walmart-like supercenter. On Tuesday, the Orland Park Plan Commission in the Chicago suburb Orland Park, Illinois voted 6-1 to approve Amazon’s proposal to develop 35 acres of land for a 229,000-square foot retail center, as reported by The Information.The development would include a brick-and-mortar supercenter selling groceries, general merchandise, and prepared foods. It would also double as an Amazon fulfillment center, like a department store with an Amazon warehouse in back. Customers would be able to pick up Amazon orders there, as well.The proposed development is far from Amazon’s first attempt at launching a brick-and-mortar retail location. Over the past few years, it’s been closing its physical stores in droves. In 2022, it shuttered all 68 of its brick-and-mortar book stores, 4-star stores, and Pop Up shops. It also shut down both of its Amazon Style clothing stores in 2023. Recently, Amazon has been focusing its brick-and-mortar store efforts on Whole Foods Market, which Amazon purchased in 2017, but it looks like it still has physical store ambitions of its own.
