Amazon to open conventional grocery store in Chicago suburb

Amazon is reportedly developing a grocery store that will feature cashiers in a Chicago suburb.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Amazon has filed for a Class D liquor license to sell goods at a site in Naperville, Ill., that once housed a Dominick’s grocery store. Renovations have reportedly been ongoing at the more than 30,000-sq.-ft- site, which also contains an operational L.A. Fitness location. 

In addition, Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico confirmed to the Tribune that Amazon is opening a grocery store at the site, although Amazon declined to comment. There has been no announcement or confirmation of when a store will open there or what its name will be. Previously, Amazon said that its new grocery store format will feature conventional checkout technology, rather than the proprietary cashierless self-checkout featured in Amazon Go stores.

Amazon is also reported to be developing a roughly 33,500-sq.-ft. brick-and-mortar grocery store in Woodland Hills, Calif. Although this store is also expected to feature conventional checkout lanes, Hngry reports it will include a dedicated “microfulfillment” section. Microfulfillment centers are small, warehouse-style spaces located within stores that use robotic technology to automatically pick and retrieve products. It is not clear whether the Naperville location will include microfulfillment.

Amazon is simultaneously developing two separate grocery formats. The retailer recently opened its first Amazon Go Grocery store, which features a cashierless “Just Walk Out” shopping model, in Seattle.