ORLAND PARK, ILL. — Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has unveiled plans to open a first-of-its-kind retail store in the southern Chicago suburb of Orland Park. The planned brick-and-mortar store will occupy the long-vacant site of the former Petey’s II restaurant at the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange Road. The Orland Park Village Board approved the project at its Jan. 19 meeting.
Amazon’s plans call for a one-story building of approximately 230,000 square feet that will offer groceries, household essentials and general merchandise. The store would function similarly to a large-format retailer such as a Walmart Supercenter. The commercial retail store would be open to the public and is not a warehouse or distribution center.
Both the Orland Park Plan Commission and the Board of Trustees have reviewed and approved the plan. The village is not providing any financial incentives to Amazon as part of this project.
“When a global retailer of this scale considers investment in Orland Park, it sends a strong signal about the vitality of our community and the strategic importance of this corridor,” says Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge.
According to a release, Amazon’s proposed multimillion-dollar investment in Orland Park would generate millions in sales and property tax revenue. The new revenue will be used to fund critical infrastructure improvements designed to enhance traffic flow and safety as well as reduce congestion.
Additionally, the construction phase is expected to generate approximately 200 jobs, followed by an estimated 500 permanent positions once the store is operational. The new Amazon retail store is slated to open in 2027.
Currently, Amazon operates Amazon Fresh grocery stores in California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington and Virginia. The Seattle-based company is also the parent company of Whole Foods Market.
Amazon’s stock price closed on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at $231 per share, about even with a year ago ($230.71).
— Kristin Harlow