Google close to committing to its first retail store in Chicago (Update: Plans reportedly scrapped)

Update, April 16, 2019 (1:24PM EST): According to the Chicago Tribune, Google scrapped its plans to open its first retail store in Chicago.

Unnamed real estate sources told the newspaper that property owner Newcastle Ltd. is now marketing the proposed space to other potential tenants. When reached for comment, Google senior manager of regional PR Kayla Conti said that the company doesn’t “comment on rumor or speculation.”

Android Authority reached out to Google for comment but didn’t hear back by press time.

Original story, August 16, 2018 (4:17PM EST): According to the Chicago Tribune, Google has plans to open a permanent retail store in Chicago, not far from its Chicago headquarters. The image above shows the location that Google might lease to build the rumored shop.

Although Google has opened numerous pop-up shops and mini-shops built inside other establishments, the company has never opened a dedicated retail store of its own. As such, if this Chicago rumor is true, the retail space would be a flagship property for Google.

The anonymous sources told The Chicago Tribune that Google is “close” to signing the lease for the 14,000 square foot space. The property has two floors and would have about twice as much space as the average Apple store.

Apple has over 450 stores all over the globe, so Google is way behind as far as establishing a competitive foothold with Apple in this regard.

We can only assume that the future Google retail store will sell Google-branded products like Pixel smartphones, Chromebooks, and headphones, as well as Google Home products. It’s also likely that Nest products would be on the shelves at the establishment since it is a Google property.

However, even if you put everything available via the online Google Store on shelves, it would never fill a 14,000 square foot space. As such, Google must either only be using part of the space or planning on including products and/or services that aren’t Google-owned.

This would follow along with Apple Stores, which primarily focus on Apple-made products but also feature third-party items that are designed to work with Apple gear.

As far as we know, the lease hasn’t even been signed, which means we are still possibly years away from any Google store opening at this location. But still, it’s something to be excited about!

What do you think? Would you shop at a physical Google store? Let us know in the comments!

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