Topics in this article

Amazon opening grocery store in Chicago suburb

By MixDex Article may include affiliate links

Amazon has applied for a liquor license to allow it to sell packaged alcohol at a building near the south side of Naperville, a major suburb of Chicago, reports the Tribune.

The site has been under construction for months now — and many speculated Amazon was coming to the location. There was also talk that Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, would be opening there.

Now, with Amazon Retail LLC officially submitting its paperwork for the liquor license, it appears the fate of the location has finally been revealed.

There’s no immediate word what the store would be called or when it will open.

According to the local building department, the store will be 30,000 square feet, which is about the size of a small Walmart.

Because of the size, it seems unlikely the store would be the same format as the cashless Amazon Go Grocery the company opened in Seattle in February 2020.

The location was previously a Dominick’s grocery store. That chain, owned by Safeway, was shut down in 2013 and 2014.

After fears that the closures would create “food deserts” or lack of competition, officials worked with other regional grocery chains to take over the former Dominick’s locations, but some, including the south Naperville location at 3116 S. Route 59, remained vacant.