11 Aug Amazon Exploring Turning Penney, Sears Stores Into Fulfillment Centers
Amazon is reportedly in talks with Simon Property Group to convert some vacant Sears and J.C. Penney locations into Amazon fulfillment centers, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The report indicated it’s unclear how many of the stores inside Simon malls are under consideration.
The deal, if it materializes, is expected to boost Amazon’s last-mile delivery capabilities with fulfillment center space, closer to customers.
Simon Property has 63 J.C. Penney and 11 Sears stores, all located at key residential places.
“For Amazon, more fulfillment centers near residential areas would speed up the crucial last mile of delivery,” The Wall Street Journal said. “For Simon, turning over what was once prime mall space to fulfillment centers shows it would be willing to relinquish an essential way to bring in more mall traffic to secure a steady tenant.