Amazon Go ‘Mini’ Opens In Seattle

Amazon has opened a smaller version of its cashier-free Amazon Go food stores in one of its Seattle offices, according to a report by the New York Post.

The eighth Amazon Go store is 450 square feet, about one-fourth the size of the original location. Located on the sixth floor of Seattle’s famous Macy’s building, it’s only open to Amazon employees and their guests. The store is aimed at office workers and sells salads and snacks.

There are no checkout aisles in the store, and customers need smartphones to enter. Cameras keep track of what shoppers grab – they simply take want from the shelves and the items will be billed to their credit card upon exit.

Amazon Go currently has stores in Chicago, San Francisco and other Seattle locations. Offering physical locations for food is part of a broader Amazon strategy to grow its customer base. Vice President of Amazon Go Gianna Puerini said the smaller concept is meant to serve people in lobbies, shared floors in larger buildings and maybe even hospitals.

“We wanted something from a design perspective that would fit nicely into open spaces,” Puerini said in an interview with the Post. “You can bring it in pieces and assemble it on-site.”

There’s also been talk recently that Amazon has been exploring the idea of bringing Amazon Go into airports as it continues its quest for expansion.

Reuters reported that a technology adviser who supports Los Angeles International Airport sent an email to a concessions official that said “the lead for Amazon Go requested a meeting. Interested?” “Yes. Thanks!” the concessions official replied.

After the meeting, an airport IT manager wrote: “I am looking forward to moving forward with the Amazon Go technology at the airport.”

An account manager at Amazon’s cloud unit also requested a meeting with San Jose International Airport, and noted that Amazon Go could be discussed.