Orland Park, IL – Amazon is making a bold move into brick-and-mortar retail with plans to open a 225,000-square-foot big-box store in Orland Park, Illinois, near Chicago. The new store concept, which will feature both fresh groceries and general merchandise, is aimed at competing directly with Walmart’s supercenter model, which typically spans around 179,000 square feet.
The proposed location will be a part of a 35-acre development near Costco and will offer customers a broad selection of products, including fresh groceries, household essentials, and general merchandise—all at low prices. The store will also feature parking spaces dedicated to pickup orders, ensuring convenience for customers who prefer to shop online but pick up in-store.
Amazon’s New Retail Strategy
This new big-box store represents a significant step for Amazon as it further explores the physical retail space, particularly in the grocery market. With grocery shopping being a major draw for consumers, Amazon aims to integrate its online success with a strong offline presence. The company’s spokesperson described the store as a “new concept that we think customers will be excited about,” highlighting the fresh approach to in-store shopping experiences.
Amazon has tested various retail concepts over the years, including its Amazon Go convenience stores and the Amazon Fresh chain. However, the company has faced challenges in gaining a foothold with physical retail, especially with its ventures into apparel stores and bookstores, which have struggled to achieve long-term success. Despite this, the company’s grocery business has shown considerable growth, with over 150 million people in the U.S. turning to Amazon for grocery shopping in 2024. The company reported more than $100 billion in gross sales in the grocery sector last year.
Blending Groceries and General Merchandise
Amazon’s strategy with this new big-box concept seems to be taking a page from Walmart’s playbook, blending groceries with general merchandise in one location. This model has been a hallmark of Walmart’s retail dominance for decades, and now Amazon is following suit with a similar approach. The 225,000-square-foot store is expected to offer a wider selection of groceries and products, allowing shoppers to find both perishable food and general merchandise under one roof.
In addition to groceries, Amazon has been expanding its same-day delivery services for perishables, making it easier for customers to shop for both fresh food and other products from Amazon.com. This enhanced service is now available in roughly 2,300 cities and towns across the U.S., which could give Amazon a competitive edge in the grocery market.
A Competitive Landscape
Despite Amazon’s push to expand its grocery business, Walmart remains the dominant player in the sector. Walmart’s grocery sales continue to grow, with the company generating $276 billion in net sales from food and beverages in 2025. However, Amazon’s $100 billion in grocery sales demonstrates its growing influence in the sector and its ability to compete with traditional retailers.
The new Amazon big-box store, if successful, could significantly impact the retail landscape by combining the convenience of Amazon’s e-commerce platform with the appeal of a physical shopping experience. As Amazon continues to experiment with new formats and services, this new store concept could help the company carve out a larger share of the grocery and retail market.
