Walmart is seeking approval to open a pickup-only grocery store in Lincolnwood, Ill. in spring 2019. Shoppers would order groceries through the Walmart web site or mobile app, and arrive at an assigned bay in the parking lot at a specified time to pick up their purchases.
The 41,700-square-foot store would be open to customers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. While the primary focus would be on groceries, customers would have the option to order other products and have them delivered to the Lincolnwood store for free pickup.
Advertisement
The retail giant received approval from the Lincolnwood Plan Commission for the project, which would replace a former Dominick’s grocery store that has been vacant since 2013, on Sept. 12. Walmart was granted permission for a special use to have the hours of operation it requested.
Additionally, the commission will recommend the Village Board vote to approve the parking, structures, signage and parking lot landscaping the retailer wants, which will require an amendment to existing ordinances. The final consideration is scheduled for an Oct. 3 meeting.
Walmart has been expanding its curbside pickup options across the country, with plans to reach 2,200 stores by the end of 2018. The retailer is piloting an automated picking system called Alphabot that delivers orders to associates to improve their efficiency, and will roll out automated pickup towers to 700 stores by the end of 2018.
