Amazon Sets Up Shop In Chicago

Amazon is about to arrive in a new home in the heart of the Midwest.

The eCommerce giant is eyeing a 30,000-square foot space in downtown Chicago, Crain’s Chicago Business reported. There were no hints, however, as to who or what will be occupying that office. Amazon is reportedly tying up the loose ends of an agreement to move into a Franklin tower space owned by Tishman Speyer Properties, which has been trying to get new tenants into the space.

The move into Chicago comes close to the same time that Amazon has expanded its presence in the region by adding free same-day delivery to Prime members in Chicago. It also recently added a warehouse in Joliet, a southwest Chicago suburban city. Amazon also has leased space in a warehouse in the Goose Island neighborhood as it attempts to gain faster delivery to its Chicago consumers.

Having an office presence in Chicago could be among Amazon’s plans to gain larger share in the region as it continues to market its Amazon Prime one- and two-hour delivery, same-day delivery and free two-day Prime delivery.

Amazon also announced this week (Nov. 10) that the company is expanding its Prime Now delivery service to include food delivery from local restaurants in the Los Angeles area. The service currently exists in Seattle, where it launched in September, and Portland, where it launched last month.

That move could also mean one-hour restaurant delivery could soon be available in markets like Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco.

To check out what else is HOT in the world of payments, click here.