Amazon's upcoming new brick-and-mortar store will outsize any Walmart Supercenter

The e-commerce giant is not giving up on physical stores, a Wall Street Journal report says. After investing millions of dollars in real-life retail and opening and closing hundreds of locations in the US and worldwide, Amazon was just authorized to begin construction on its first megastore. 

The company has chosen Orlando Park, Illinois, outside of Chicago, for this new enterprise, whose massive 230,000-square-foot property, reports WSJ, could nearly fit two average-size Target stores. The site's board of trustees approved the project 6 to 1 earlier in the week, and the plans shared show a dual-purpose facility that will serve as both a traditional retail store and a fulfillment center for online and in-store sales.

The store is planned to carry prepared foods as well as a wide array of goods and groceries, most from in-house brands such as the Amazon Grocery line, the e-giant's recently launched line featuring pantry staples and fresh produce. 

Amazon keeps betting on diversification

Even as the world's biggest e-marketer, Amazon's move makes financial sense. Opening its own megastore might allow Jeff Bezos' company to tap into the 80 percent of total retail sales that still occur in brick-and-mortar stores, according to the US Census Bureau.

This enterprise, however, isn't without challenges, as the platform will face fierce competition from well-established, consolidated retail giants such as Costco and Walmart. Amazon doesn't seem to be intimidated by it, though. As reported by Supermarket News, Orlando Park is conveniently located near the company's IRL competitors, including the aforementioned Costco and Walmart, as well as Target. 

Construction of the new big-box store should begin as soon as the city grants the company the necessary permits to demolish the restaurant currently on the property. The grand opening is expected as soon as next year. 

*All images courtesy of Amazon via Patch - Orlando Park, IL 

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