Amazon is one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, Amazon started as an online bookstore but has since expanded to become a dominant force in e-commerce and cloud computing. Although Amazon’s headquarters are located in Seattle, Washington, the company has offices and fulfillment centers all over the world, including a major presence in Chicago, Illinois.
Amazon’s Presence in Chicago
Yes, Amazon does have offices located in Chicago. Specifically, Amazon has the following offices and facilities in the Chicagoland area:
AWS Office
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon’s cloud computing platform, operates an office located at 333 South Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago. This office employs cloud computing engineers, solutions architects, sales and business development staff focused on providing AWS products and services to customers in the Midwest region.
Fulfillment and Sortation Centers
Amazon operates the following fulfillment and sortation centers in the Chicago metropolitan area:
– Monee, IL – 640,000 square foot fulfillment center opened in 2017
– Romeoville, IL – Another 640,000 square foot fulfillment center opened in 2017
– Edwardsville, IL – A third Chicagoland fulfillment center measuring over 1 million square feet
– Crest Hill, IL – 250,000 square foot sortation center for packages
These fulfillment centers are the backbone of Amazon’s fast package delivery operations across Chicago, Illinois and the Midwest. Thousands of employees at these centers pick, pack and ship customer orders.
Prime Now Hub
To support its Prime Now 1-2 hour delivery service, Amazon operates a Prime Now hub facility in Romeoville, IL. This hub stores tens of thousands of frequently ordered products that are eligible for rapid delivery to Chicago residents.
Amazon Books
Amazon operates three physical bookstore retail locations in the Chicago area:
– 3425 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL
– 2144 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL
– 720 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
These bookstores sell books as well as Amazon devices like Echo speakers, Fire tablets and Kindles.
Amazon 4-star
In addition to the Amazon Books stores, Amazon also has one 4-star location in Chicago:
– 1326 N Halstead St, Chicago, IL
This retail store carries products that are top sellers and have been rated 4 stars and above by Amazon customers.
Whole Foods Market Stores
Since acquiring Whole Foods in 2017, Amazon now operates 16 Whole Foods grocery stores located throughout Chicagoland. These locations serve as pickup hubs for online grocery orders.
Additional Corporate Offices
In addition to the retail, fulfillment and AWS offices, Amazon also has smaller corporate offices located in Chicago:
– Principal Corporate Office at 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL
– 25 E. Washington Ave – Tech Campus
– 231 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL – Advertising office
So in summary, yes Amazon has a very large presence in Chicago spanning fulfillment centers, tech offices, retail stores and corporate outposts. The company continues to expand operations to better serve customers in the greater Chicagoland region.
When Did Amazon Establish a Presence in Chicago?
Amazon’s history and expansion in Chicago reflects the company’s broader growth trajectory:
- 2002 – Opened first fulfillment center in Dupage County, IL to offer faster shipping times to Midwest customers
- 2015 – Expanded operations with the opening of Prime Now hub in Romeoville, IL
- 2016 – Launched first bookstore in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood
- 2017 – Opened two new large fulfillment centers in Monee and Romeoville
- 2018 – Acquired Whole Foods and its Chicagoland locations
- 2019 – Continued expanding corporate office presence in downtown Chicago
- 2022 – 16 total Amazon retail stores now operating in the Chicago area
So Amazon has steadily increased its physical operations and employment footprint in Chicago since 2002 as the company has scaled globally. Today, Amazon employs over 25,000 workers in the Chicagoland area.
Why Does Amazon Have Such a Large Presence in Chicago?
There are several reasons why Amazon has invested heavily in building out facilities and offices in and around Chicago:
Strategic Location
Chicago offers a strategic transportation and logistics location in the Midwest. The city is a hub for rail, air, interstate highways and Great Lakes shipping. Amazon can efficiently receive and distribute products to millions of customers throughout the region from Chicago fulfillment centers.
Large Metropolitan Area
The Chicago metro area has nearly 10 million residents, making it one of the largest markets in the United States. Operating fulfillment centers near Chicago allows Amazon to offer fast shipping speeds on a wide selection of products.
Tech Talent Pool
Chicago has a large talent pool of skilled technology workers which Amazon can recruit for its AWS offices and other tech operations positions. The city is home to top universities like Northwestern and University of Chicago.
Central Time Zone Location
Amazon’s main headquarters is in Seattle and most tech companies have focused on the coasts. Chicago’s central time zone location provides diversity and a competitive advantage in serving customers across the U.S.
Quality of Life
While not located right downtown, many of Amazon’s facilities are situated near Chicago suburbs that provide safe, affordable housing and quality of life for employees. This helps with recruiting.
Financial Incentives
Chicago and Illinois have provided financial incentives packages over the years to encourage Amazon facility development. Tax credits, grants, infrastructure improvements and other perks make Chicago an appealing expansion location.
Conclusion
In summary, yes Amazon has established a significant presence in Chicago over the past two decades consisting of fulfillment centers, corporate offices, retail stores and other facilities. Strategic logistics location, access to a large customer base, technology talent and financial incentives make the Chicago metro area an important hub for Amazon’s ongoing national expansion. The company continues to invest and grow its footprint in the region.