The second Amazon Go store has opened its doors —ahead of schedule.
On Monday, the online giant opened its second cashier-less Amazon Go convenience store in its hometown of Seattle.
The new c-store opened ahead of its originally projected fall timeline, and is 1,450 sq. ft. — smaller than originally reported. (Earlier reports had the store at 3,000 sq. ft., which was approximately 70% larger than the original store, which opened to the public in January.)
The new location will operate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and features a limited menu of ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch dinner and snack items, as well as Amazon meal kits. Unlike the original store, the new location doesn’t feature a working kitchen or liquor section, according to The Verge.
To shop the store, shoppers launch the Amazon Go app on their mobile device as they enter, and take the products they want off of store shelves. Amazon’s “walk out” technology automatically detects when products are taken off (or returned) to the shelves, and keeps track of them in a virtual cart.
When customers are done shopping, they just leave the store. Shortly after, they receive a digital receipt and their Amazon account is also charged for the order, according to the website.
Amazon plans to expand the concept into other cities, including Chicago and San Francisco.
Other retailers are making plans to take on Amazon with their own cashierless concepts. For example, Walmart is developing a 32,000 sq. ft., technology-driven store focused on fresh foods and digital technology. The new location, which will set up shop in Dallas, will feature a digital experience, including the company’s Scan & Go mobile self-checkout system, and digital signage. It will also feature fast membership sign-up process, along with self-serve returns, and same-day pickup and delivery options.
The club will also have an assortment of between 1,000 to 2,000 items. These will be comprised of convenience items, fresh foods, grab-and-go meals, and consumable items members buy most frequently.