An earlier Recode scoop asserted that Amazon would open as many as six more stores in 2018, with one possibly coming to Los Angeles. Expansion was really just a matter of time given that the existing Seattle location appears to have been a success. It was more a question of where -- would Amazon focus on its hometown, or spread its wings? We now know the answer -- it wants to offer the technology far from home, albeit in major urban centers where they're likely to get lots of traffic. The question is whether or not Amazon can roll out enough stores to make Go virtually ubiquitous, or if it'll ultimately serve as a showcase while other retailers rely on competing technology.
Amazon is planning to open stores in Chicago and San Francisco under its Amazon Go brand. The company has advertised for staff in both cities, following the opening of its first store in Seattle. In a statement, Walmart said it was "excited about our new partnership with Amazon.com" but declined further comment.