It’s back to the future, as online retailer Amazon has plans for a brick-and-mortar bookstore on M Street — with a touch of irony.
According to the Washington Post, which first reported the plans: “Steven Roth, the chief executive of Vornado Realty Trust, told investors this week that Amazon has leased 10,000 square feet at 3040 M St. NW in Georgetown, a storefront previously occupied by Barneys New York. He did not specify when the store is set to open.”
The future Amazon store is adjacent to the huge Nike store property, also owned by Vornado. The Nike store took over the large — and still missed — Barnes & Noble Books location, which closed on M Street in 2011, a victim of increased online book sales.
Amazon already has physical stores in its hometown of Seattle, along with San Diego and Portland — with more on the way in New York City and New Jersey.
Besides books, Amazon stores display Amazon products such as its TV streaming and Echo voice assistant. Expect some purchase-pickup services as well. The Amazon app will be used for product information and to speed transactions.
Amazon’s founder and CEO is Jeff Bezos, who owns the Washington Post.
