Amazon Go goes smaller

Amazon.com Inc. has signaled another opportunity for expanding its cashierless Amazon Go stores with the opening of a 450-square-foot outlet in Seattle.

The mini store, which opened its doors yesterday, is situated on the sixth floor of the Macy’s building at 300 Pine St. in downtown Seattle, where Amazon has an office. About a quarter of the size of previous Amazon Go locations, the new venue serves Amazon employees and their guests only.

Offerings include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack items, similar to what’s available at other Amazon Go stores.

Amazon Go stores employ Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology. Overhead cameras, weight sensors and deep learning technology detect merchandise that shoppers take from or return to shelves and keep track of the items selected in a virtual cart. Shoppers use the Amazon Go mobile app to gain entry to the store through a turnstile. When customers leave the store, their Amazon accounts are automatically debited for the items they take, and a receipt is sent to the app.

Given the latest Amazon Go’s compact size, the format could work not only in office buildings but also in such settings as hospitals and airports, according to retail industry observers. The existing stores operate as stand-alone convenience stores. Earlier this month, a Wall Street Journal report said Amazon is testing cashierless checkout in larger store spaces.

Related:First Amazon Go locations demonstrate concept’s strong appeal

An Amazon spokesperson said the Macy’s building location marks a new concept for Amazon Go, but the company isn’t providing further details about expansion plans.

“We’re excited to introduce a new small-format Amazon Go that is freestanding and can be as compact as 450 square feet,” the spokesperson said in a statement yesterday. “Our first of these stores opened today for Amazon employees and their visitors in Seattle.”

Including the new store, Amazon now has eight Amazon Go locations: four in Seattle, three in Chicago and one in San Francisco. The stores range from 1,200 to 2,300 square feet.

At press time, three other Amazon Go outlets were planned for San Francisco, Chicago and New York City. The San Francisco store is slated to open this winter and the Chicago store in 2019. Amazon has confirmed plans for a New York location but declined to provide any details.

Bloomberg reported in September that Amazon may open as many as 3,000 Amazon Go stores by 2021, including 50 locations in key metro markets during 2019.