New Amazon Go format makes debut

Amazon today opened its first larger-format Amazon Go cashierless convenience store, a 6,150-square-foot location in suburban Mill Creek, Wash.

Situated at 13209 39th Ave. SE, Suite 101, in Mill Creek, the new Amazon Go has front-of-store selling space of about 3,250 square feet. The total size of more than 6,000 square feet makes the latest Go concept much bigger than current 25 Amazon Go stores, which range from 450 to 2,700 square feet in the front end. The existing locations — in Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle — also focus on high-traffic spaces in urban markets.

Seattle-based Amazon said the Mill Creek Go store, open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, brings an expanded array of grab-and-go food and beverages, including a wider selection of beer and wine and daily staples. The e-tailer noted that the store also houses a new Made-to-Order kitchen, which offers about 30 fresh-made breakfast and lunch items available all day. Options include breakfast bowls and sandwiches, burritos, hot and cold deli sandwiches, salads and wraps. Customers, too, can make any Made-to-Order kitchen item a meal by adding chips and a fountain soda for an additional $2.49.

Specialty beverage offerings include Starbucks fresh-brewed coffee and espresso plus on-tap beverages such as RISE Nitro cold brew coffee, Health-Ade kombuchas and ICEE Slushies. Amazon noted that the store also offers self-serve Pinkberry Fro-yo with a variety of toppings, the first time that Pinkberry is available in Washington state.

Related:Amazon eyes suburbs with larger Go format

As in other Amazon Go locations, the Mill Creek store offers an assortment of local brands, including Alki Bakery, Macrina Bakery, Sri Bella, Reuben’s Brews Black Raven Brewing, Aslan, Charles Smith and Gilbert Cellars.

Shoppers can access a range of services as well. Besides Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which allows customers to skip the checkout line, the store offers Amazon.com Packageless Returns and features two Standard Level 2 Volta electric vehicle charging stations, which customers can use free. Blue Rhino Propane and Amazon gift cards also are available for purchase.

In support of the Mill Creek Go’s opening, the store is offering customers $6 Made-to-Order sandwiches and wraps as well as $3 Made-to-Order breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast for a limited time.

When announcing the suburban Go store format in January, Amazon said it also plans to open another new-concept Go store in metropolitan Los Angeles but didn’t provide details. In November, in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, cafe chain Starbucks opened a Starbucks Pickup store that houses an Amazon Go store. Two more Starbucks/Go locations are slated for New York City this year, including in Times Square.  

Related:Starbucks has opened a store with Amazon Go