The Amazon Fresh grocery store in the former Dominick’s Finer Foods location at 325 East Palatine Road in Arlington Heights is set to open Thursday, July 25, 2024, according to Amazon.
The Amazon announcement came soon after Jewel-Osco owner Albertsons and Mariano’s owner Kroger floundered with announcement of their attempt to sell-off even more of their famous and customer-loved Mariano’s stores to get federal approval of their merger attempt. The Albertsons-Kroger merger attempt is being met with a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming; and the District of Columbia.
According to the court complaint, on February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission found reason to believe that this proposed acquisition may substantially lessen competition in violation of the nation’s antitrustlaws. To assess the legality of the proposed acquisition, the Commission commenced an administrative proceeding and scheduled a full trial on the antitrust merits—where all parties will have the opportunity to conduct discovery and present testimony and other evidence. The administrative proceeding is set to begin on July 31, 2024. Currently, Albertsons and Kroger are fierce competitors. Locally, it’s Jewel-Osco vs. Mariano’s.
In the midst of the Albertson-Kroger fiasco, Amazon Fresh arrives in Arlington Heights. The 50,000-square-foot Arlington Heights location will become the 10th Amazon Fresh in Illinois, the latest among Amazon Fresh stores in Bloomingdale, Morton Grove, Naperville (two stores), Norridge, North Riverside, Oak Lawn, Schaumburg, and Westmont.
The closest Amazon Fresh store is at the northeast corner of Roselle Road and Golf Road in Schaumburg. Another Amazon Fresh store will be opening close by at the northwest corner of Lake Cook Road and McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove.
The opening of the Arlington Heights store was delayed for the past year as Amazon tweaked the design and operations of their Amazon Fresh stores.
Amazon Fresh sign installed at Arlington Heights Road and Lillian Street in Arlington Heights on Thursday, June 27, 2024 (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
The first indication that renewed progress was being made at the Arlington Heights Amazon Fresh location was when some type of asphalt cutting work was underway on Friday, May 17, 2024 in the parking lot in front of the Amazon Fresh store — apparently some type of underground fence perimeter was being installed for Amazon’s high-tech shopping carts.
One month later, a bright temporary “Dealicious Groceries Coming Soon” banner was installed on the front of the store near the roof on Monday, June 17, 2024. Also, “pickup” signs were installed at the front of the store, and at pickup parking stalls in the parking lot. The signs at the pickup stalls in the parking lot were the first signs that included the words “Amazon Fresh” A couple of weeks later the temporary ‘Dealicious’ banner was replaced by an “Amazon Fresh Coming Soon” banner.
Next Amazon Fresh signs were added to the entrance signs at Town & Country Center. Amazon Fresh signs were added to the street sign for Town & Country Center at Arlington Heights Road and Lillian Street on June 27, 2024; and Amazon Fresh signs were added to the street sign near the Rand Road entrance to the shopping center.
The Arlington Heights village board approved liquor licenses (Class B and Class T) for the retail sale of alcohol and in-store tastings involving alcohol on July 1, 2024. Trustee Nicolle Grasse moved to recommend the licenses to the liquor commissioner — seconded by Trustee Thomas Schwingbeck. All trustees were in favor.
MAIN BUILDING SIGN
The main building sign for the Amazon Fresh store in Arlington Heights was installed June 15, 2022, but was removed in April 2023. The Google listing for the 325 East Palatine Road located fluctuated from “opening soon” to “permanently closed” with a little back-and-forth.
The main storefront sign has not been re-installed yet after an attempt on June 27, 2024. Apparently, the green background panels need repair before a new main sign can be installed.
Along with other new stores, the opening of the Amazon Fresh Arlington Heights store was delayed while Amazon refined the design, technology and operation of their future stores, and revamped their existing stores.
Initially, there were two different types of technological processes used for the automated checkout that allowed the faster option (Dash Cart Lane) to slower traditional cashier checkout. One option used many cameras in the store ceiling to monitor items placed in a high-tech shopping cart. The other option (the ultimate choice) now uses high-tech shopping carts equipped with scanners, scales and sensors that detect the items that are being placed inside the shopping cart. The system is synced up with consumers’ Amazon accounts and credit cards, so they can skip the checkout lines.
Amazon Fresh stores have pioneered the use of so-called Amazon Dash Carts:
Using the Dash Cart, customers …
sign in to an in-app Amazon store code or tap START SHOPPING;
scan items with barcodes, weigh produce in the cart’s basket, bag items, and proceed;
find additional items with the Dash Cart on-screen store map, monitor purchases, and track spending on the screen on the Dash Cart; and
check out by passing the Dash Cart through the Dash Cart Lane to exit the store.
Shoppers can also use traditional checkout lines — either with a cashier or via self-checkout.
Amazon Fresh store hours at the Arlington Heights location will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
