Amazon Plans to Open a Large-Scale Retail Store Similar to Walmart Near Chicago

Amazon Eyes New Large-Scale Retail Store in Chicago Suburbs

Amazon.com Inc. is preparing to launch a new 229,000-square-foot retail location in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, marking a renewed push into brick-and-mortar retail. This new store will offer both groceries and a wide selection of general merchandise, drawing inspiration from the big-box formats popularized by retailers like Walmart and Target.

If the project receives the green light from local authorities, construction could get underway before the end of the year. The proposal has already been reviewed by the Orland Park village planning commission and has the support of Mayor Jim Dodge.

“We are constantly exploring new ways to enhance our customers’ daily lives, including through innovative physical retail experiences,” an Amazon representative shared. “This proposed site represents a fresh concept we believe will excite shoppers.”

According to local government documents, the store will also feature ready-to-eat meals and a small warehouse area intended solely to support the store’s operations, not for broader distribution. The planned location covers 35 acres, currently occupied by an unused restaurant.

Between 2015 and 2020, Amazon experimented with various physical retail formats, such as bookstores, specialty gift shops, automated convenience stores, and a mainstream grocery chain. However, many of these ventures were scaled back or discontinued during the pandemic as the company sought the right approach for in-person retail under its brand.

Amazon’s most significant move into physical retail came in 2017 with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, instantly expanding its footprint with over 400 supermarkets nationwide.

Reporting contributed by Matt Day.

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