Back in August, GeekWire discovered something called Project X in Ballard that turned out to be plans for an Amazon drive-up grocery store. Per the permit, a 9,759 square-foot retail space at 5100 15th Ave. N.W. in Ballard would allow customers to pick up groceries ordered online.
Now it looks like this next wave in Amazon’s diversification isn’t sticking to Ballard. It looks like they might be doing something similar as GeekWire now reports that Amazon is remodeling the former Sears store at the Starbucks headquarters in SoDo with 40,000-square-feet of distribution space, a retail lobby, and an outdoor canopy that seems very similar to the one in Ballard.
As with Ballard, Amazon remains mum on their plans but either way they are planning a massive renovation of the first floor of the former Sears space and seem to be going out of their way to make it customer-friendly. Planning documents say that the canopy will be used “for drive-through/pick-up activities” and blueprints include seven parking bays.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Amazon could be “just weeks” from opening the Ballard location and Silicon Valley Business Journal reports that the company has two drive-up markets planned for the San Francisco Bay Area as well.
- A second Amazon drive-up store in Seattle? Filings link tech giant to mystery project at Starbucks HQ [GW]
- Is Amazon about to open a drive-up grocery store in Ballard? [CS]
- Amazon to Expand Grocery Business With New Convenience Stores [WSJ]
- Exclusive: Amazon planning second drive-up grocery store, this time on the Peninsula [SVBJ]