Amazon Go Going to Willis Tower, Ogilvie in Chicago
CHICAGO — Two locations have been chosen for the upcoming Amazon Go stores in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune.
E-retailer Amazon has leased spaces in the Willis Tower—formerly known as the Sears Tower—and in an office building attached to Ogilvie Transportation Center, a train station, the Tribune reports.
CSP Daily News previously reported that Amazon is slated to open new Amazon Go locations in Chicago and San Francisco, but Amazon did not reveal specific locations at the time; however, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that one location would open in the city’s Union Square. Amazon did not specify when the locations will open.
The first and currently only Amazon Go store in Seattle, across the street from Amazon headquarters, is 1,800 square feet of tech-heavy retail. QR code-activated turnstiles sit at the entrance of the store, cameras dot the ceiling and sensors line the shelves, all of which meticulously tracks customer and product movement. There is no cashier or checkout area in the store. Customers simply pick up what they want and walk outside with it, and their Amazon account is charged automatically. Additionally, chefs and employees prepare food and other items in a kitchen in the back, the interior of which can be viewed from the street.
An Amazon spokesperson did not give any additional information regarding the leased spaces. “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation,” the spokesperson told CSP Daily News.
Chicago is one of the cities still eligible to host Amazon’s yet-to-be-announced second headquarters. The city already has an Amazon Books location and stores for Amazon pickups and returns.