On a grey industrial block in north-west Seattle, the lights are already turned on in a building that has no name. This is set to be Amazon’s new grocery store, one of two that will open soon in its home town, marking the retailer’s first step into physical stores for grocery and convenience items.
It will be anything but your typical convenience store, however. The shop functions around a drive-in concept, and features a large tilted awning that gives it the air of a 1950s drive-in diner.
Customers who come here will not browse the aisles — they will order their goods online in advance, then stay in their car while their groceries are brought out to them.