Amazon eyes further Go sites on Regent Street and suburban London

Retail Week understands that the American etail giant is looking to take a site for one of its Go stores on the northern end of Regent Street in the West End and at least two more suburban sites in south west London, according to multiple retail property sources. 

Stores being considered are between 2,000 sq ft and 3,000 sq ft and could be secured with rent reductions of between a third and 50% given the current weakened state of the retail property market. 

A spokeswoman for Amazon refused to comment. 

It was reported earlier this year that Notting Hill in west London was a likely location for a Go store, although Amazon has not formally disclosed any plans to launch the format in the UK.

The Sunday Times reported that Amazon was also eyeing shops near transport hubs, despite the fact that many in the wider UK workforce are still working from home due to the coronavirus. 

One source said that Amazon would look to roll out the Go concept stores in London, before looking to other UK regional cities. 

Amazon has reportedly already arranged to open around 10 Go shops and is in talks about another 20 locations, with the first London site scheduled to open at the end of the year. 

The etailer opened the first Amazon Go store in its home city of Seattle in the US two years ago, as part of an increasingly multichannel approach – it also owns the Whole Foods Market grocery chain.

Go stores are equipped with cameras that track what shoppers purchase, enabling customers to pay using an app without the need to queue.