ORLANDO PARK, Ill. — Amazon is expanding its long-standing rivalry with Walmart by unveiling plans for a massive big-box retail store in suburban Chicago. The new concept closely resembles a traditional supercenter in size and scope, while also incorporating Amazon’s digital and fulfillment capabilities.
The proposed store, a roughly 229,000-square-foot facility in Orland Park, would be larger than the typical Walmart Supercenter, which usually measures about 179,000 square feet. According to planning documents, the one-story building would sell fresh groceries, household essentials, and general merchandise, positioning it as Amazon’s strongest physical retail challenge yet to Walmart’s main format.
Unlike a traditional big box, however, Amazon is designing the store with a strong focus on “back of house” operations. A large part of the space will support order fulfillment for in-store pickup and delivery, including dedicated queuing areas for drivers and separate pickup lanes for customers. The goal, company representatives said during local planning hearings, is to lessen friction between in-store shoppers and gig-economy workers while speeding up fulfillment.
Amazon executives have framed the project as another experiment in physical retail. “The site in question is our planned location for a new concept that we think customers will be excited about,” a spokesperson said, adding that the company regularly tests new shopping experiences designed to make everyday shopping easier.
Industry analysts view the move as more than just a routine test. In a note to subscribers, Consumer Intelligence Research Partners stated that the project indicates Amazon recognizes that competing more effectively with Walmart requires physical scale, not just digital reach. CIRP estimates that although Amazon leads in e-commerce, online shopping still makes up less than 20% of total retail spending in the U.S. Interestingly, CIRP data shows that 93% of Amazon customers also shop at Walmart.
“This could just be another experiment, but as experiments go, it reveals a degree of Walmart jealousy that we didn’t expect,” CIRP analysts wrote.
Amazon’s proposed superstore also reflects lessons learned from years of mixed outcomes in brick-and-mortar retail. Since acquiring Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion in 2017, the company has launched and closed bookstores, apparel stores, 4-star shops, and mall kiosks, while slowing the expansion of Amazon Fresh. Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel now oversees Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores division, which includes Fresh and other grocery initiatives.
The Orland Park concept seems to expand on recent experiments that combine digital ordering with physical shopping. At a Whole Foods store in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., Amazon recently tested an automated micro-fulfillment center that allows shoppers to browse organic produce while ordering everyday items using an app, with robots preparing orders in the back. In Orland Park, that method would be scaled up to an industrial level.
During planning commission hearings, Amazon described a tech-enabled experience where shoppers could browse limited floor inventory and use kiosks or an app to request different sizes or colors from the back room, then retrieve items at the front counter after shopping. “It’s the best that Amazon has to offer under Whole Foods, Fresh, and their online offerings,” said Katie Jahnke Dale, an attorney representing Amazon.
The Orland Park Plan Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of the project. A final vote by the village’s Board of Trustees is scheduled for January 19. If approved, local officials estimate the store could open in late 2027. The site, located near major highways, would sit close to established national retailers, including Costco, Target, and Trader Joe’s.
For mass merchants and large-format retailers, Amazon’s move signals a potentially significant escalation: a big-box format that combines Walmart-style variety and value with Amazon’s data, logistics, and omnichannel capabilities.
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