Amazon is advancing plans to build a massive new retail store in Orland Park, a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago. The proposed development features a one-story building spanning approximately 225,000 to 229,000 square feet, making it larger than the average Walmart Supercenter, which typically measures around 179,000 square feet. This marks a significant step for the e-commerce giant into a big-box format that combines fresh groceries, household essentials, and a wide array of general merchandise under one roof, according to reports.
The site occupies a 35-acre parcel at the southwest corner of 159th Street and LaGrange Road, a high-traffic commercial corridor already home to major retailers including Costco, Target, and Trader Joe’s. The location previously housed Petey’s II restaurant, which closed in early 2024, leaving the property vacant. Plans include dedicated parking for online order pickups, space for smaller commercial outlots, landscaped areas, stormwater management features, and seven loading docks to support both in-store operations and delivery services. The design emphasizes a seamless blend of physical shopping and fulfillment for online purchases, reflecting Amazon’s ongoing efforts to integrate its digital and physical retail strategies.
Local planning authorities have moved forward with the proposal. The Orland Park Plan Commission reviewed the plans in early January 2026 and approved them with a 6-1 vote, addressing aspects such as special-use permits, site layout, and modifications to parking requirements. The project now awaits final consideration by the village board, with a meeting scheduled later in the month. If approved, construction could begin as early as spring 2026. Village officials, including the mayor, have highlighted the development as a sign of economic confidence in the area, noting that attracting a major global retailer like Amazon underscores the strength of Orland Park’s market and infrastructure.
This initiative represents Amazon’s latest push into brick-and-mortar retail, where groceries serve as a key attraction to draw in customers. The company has experimented with various physical formats over the years, including Amazon Fresh grocery stores that launched in 2020, Whole Foods Market locations with innovative features like in-aisle QR code ordering from microfulfillment centers, and smaller Daily Shop concepts introduced in late 2024. It has also operated Amazon Go convenience stores for several years. However, many earlier efforts—such as apparel-focused stores, bookstores, and the 4-star format limited to highly rated items—failed to sustain momentum. Amazon Fresh has experienced uneven expansion since its debut.
The new Orland Park store aligns with Amazon’s recent emphasis on combining groceries with broader merchandise offerings, a model long mastered by competitors like Walmart. In recent years, Amazon has expanded same-day delivery of perishable groceries alongside millions of other products to thousands of U.S. cities and towns. The company’s grocery operations have grown substantially, with more than 150 million Americans shopping for groceries through its platforms and gross sales exceeding $100 billion in 2024. In contrast, Walmart reported $276 billion in net food and beverage sales during its 2025 fiscal year, demonstrating the scale of the grocery market and the ongoing competition in the sector.
The proposal has generated mixed reactions in the community. While some residents and officials welcome the potential economic benefits, including sales tax revenue to support municipal services and job opportunities, others have expressed concerns about increased traffic congestion at an already busy intersection. Planners have outlined mitigation measures, such as coordination with state and county transportation departments for signal upgrades, turn lanes, and other roadway improvements. The development avoids heavy distribution center functions, focusing instead on retail with limited warehousing to minimize truck traffic.
This project signals Amazon’s determination to refine its approach to physical stores after years of trial and error. By entering the big-box arena directly, the company aims to capture more of the in-person shopping experience while leveraging its strengths in logistics, selection, and pricing. The outcome in Orland Park could influence future expansions if the format proves successful in blending online efficiency with traditional retail appeal.
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