Amazon Go Arrives In NYC

Amazon Go’s New York City location will be inside Brookfield Place, formerly known as the World Financial Center, in Manhattan’s Battery Park City neighborhood. According to Recode, the Amazon Go store will be located adjacent to Brookfield Place’s Winter Garden atrium, near the security desk in front of American Express’ office tower and an Oliver Peoples eyewear store

In addition to Amex, Brookfield Place is home to large corporations like Time Inc., as well as high-end retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Saks Fifth Avenue. An Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

It was revealed last month that an Amazon Go would be coming to New York City. Earlier this year, the eCommerce giant launched its first checkout-free convenience store market in Seattle. It recently opened two more locations in the city and, in September, it debuted in Chicago. The company reportedly plans to open 3,000 locations by 2021.

At the first Seattle location, Amazon Go customers can choose from pre-made salads, sandwiches, snacks and meals, as wells as beer, wine and other beverages. Shelves are also stocked with produce, meat and Amazon meal kits. The second Seattle location doesn’t offer liquor and doesn’t carry certain staples, such as bread or milk. While some prepared foods in Amazon Go’s original store were made on the premises, the selection in the second store is provided by an Amazon facility in Seattle.

To reach new brick-and-mortar customers, Amazon included such high-tech conveniences as speedy checkout, which eliminates the need to wait in lines to pay upon exiting. Though Amazon Go doesn’t need cashiers, there are employees who perform such tasks as checking IDs for alcohol purchases and preparing food in the store’s kitchen.

To shop in the store, customers must first download the Amazon Go app on their mobile device and scan the app upon entering. The store then uses cameras and sensors on shelves, as well as a computer vision system, to scan the items being purchased and automatically charge them to the shopper’s Amazon account.