Amazon will open its first cashier-less store in New York City in Battery Park City, Recodereported on Monday. Amazon Go is like a futuristic convenience store, offering ready-to-eat meals and groceries without having to wait in line. According to the company, “Just Walk Out Technology” is used, which automatically keeps tracks of products taken or returned via a virtual cart. With no lines or checkout, once you find an item you want, you can just leave.
Amazon plans to open the store in the Winter Garden atrium inside Brookfield Place, a shopping center across from the World Trade Center. Amazon Go is currently only open in Seattle, on the ground floor of the company’s headquarters, Chicago, and San Francisco. Amazon has said it hopes to open 3,000 Amazon Go stores by 2021, as reported by Bloomberg.
The store uses the same technology found in self-driving cars, like computer vision and sensor fusion. Shoppers must use the Amazon Go app to enter the store. All products will be charged to the Amazon account, with a receipt sent after.
Items offered do differ among stores, but products like grocery staples, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals are available. Plus, there are even “Amazon Meal Kits,” which are designed by chefs and include all of the ingredients needed to make a 30-minute meal for two (à la Blue Apron).
Last month, Amazon opened a brick-and-mortar store in Soho that only sells items rated 4-stars and above. Aptly called Amazon 4-star, the store, located at 72 Spring Street, features products that are top sellers and “trending,” with actual customer reviews next to them.
[Via Recode]