Walmart testing 'dark stores' closed to the public
(NewsNation) — Walmart is testing new "dark stores" that look like traditional retail stores but are used for online orders only and aren't open to the public.
The company has opened one of these warehouses in Dallas and has plans for another in Bentonville, Arkansas, where the company has its headquarters, Bloomberg reported.
The goal is faster delivery, with customers choosing to pay more to get their purchases faster with increasing frequency. The chain is competing with companies like Amazon, where quick shipping is a selling point for shoppers.
The dark stores will be stocked with some of the most popular items and used to amplify the reach of existing stores and warehouses.
Walmart previously operated a few similar warehouses from the 2010s through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walmart has worked to expand digital operations in recent years, adding new services and allowing third-party sellers to sell on the platform.