Happy Friday!

Amazon is going big—literally. The company just got the green light to build a 230,000-square-foot mega-store in Orland Park, designed to rival Walmart with groceries, essentials, and tech-powered convenience. It’s Amazon’s boldest retail move yet, and it's happening just here in Chicagoland. 🛒

❄️ Today’s weather:
Snow showers with a high of 17°F. A 25% chance of precipitation, 75% humidity, and winds at 11 mph. A good day for boots, gloves, and a backup plan.

📺 7 Most Frustrating Things About Living in Chicago: In today’s video, I get real about what drives locals nuts—from transit to taxes—and what you should know if you live here (or are thinking about it).

🍴 Check out The Foodie’s Guide for this week’s best eats, and scroll down for WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN THE 'BURBS? — your weekend events roundup. 

Let’s dive in!

 —Brandon Blankenship, Founder of Living Chicago Suburbs / Realtor with Keller Williams Premiere Properties

Events

💭 WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN THE 'BURBS? 

This Weekend Events…

Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show

See a wide selection of boats and vendors, plus interactive attractions like Bumper Boats, a Surf Simulator, a trout pond, virtual reality games, and more.
📍 Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont
🗓️ Date & Time: Jan 28 – Feb 1 | Times vary
🎟️ Tickets: $12 - $15
🔗 More Info

Northwestern University’s 83rd Annual Dolphin Show “Footloose”

A student-produced musical based on the iconic ’80s movie, presented by Northwestern University..
📍 Location: Cahn Auditorium, Evanston
🗓️ Date & Time: Jan 30–31 | 7:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $25 - $40
🔗 More Info

Downtown Downers Grove Ice Festival

Enjoy more than 60 ice sculptures displayed throughout downtown, plus live carving demonstrations at select times.
📍 Location: Main & Curtiss Street, Downers Grove
🗓️ Date & Time: Jan 30 – Feb 1
🎟️ Tickets: Free
🔗 More Info

NOT ENOUGH? SEE MORE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND→

Nothing in this section is sponsored, I will let you know when it's sponsored

Free Home Buying Seminar in March

Join us for The House Pour — Home Buying Seminar Edition at Brewpoint Coffee in Elmhurst!

Jesse Furrow and I are hosting a free home-buying seminar on March 7 at Brewpoint Coffee in Elmhurst. You’ll get practical tips, market updates, and answers to your questions. Coffee and bagels are on them. A great chance to learn, meet people, and feel confident about your next move.

Learn how to buy a home in Chicagoland in a relaxed, easy way.

News

🛒 Amazon Just Announced a Massive Store in Chicagoland

Driving the news: Amazon is taking its biggest swing yet at brick-and-mortar retail with a 230,000-square-foot store planned for Orland Park, aiming to blend groceries, essentials, and general merchandise under one roof.

Details:

• The store will open in 2027 at 159th Street and LaGrange Avenue, near Walmart, Target, and Costco.

• The site spans 35 acres and includes 800 parking spaces and 500 new jobs.

• Roughly half the store will be for in-person shopping, while the rest will serve same-day pickup and delivery orders.

• Amazon will add traffic mitigation measures and build multiple turn lanes to address local concerns.

Why it matters: With roughly 80% of retail still happening in physical stores, Amazon is looking to grow beyond its 3% grocery market share. The Orland Park location offers high visibility, strong foot traffic, and a chance to compete head-on with retail giants like Walmart.

The big picture: Amazon’s e-commerce dominance hasn’t translated to grocery or in-person retail. Its previous physical store concepts (like Amazon 4-star and Amazon Style) fell flat. This new store borrows heavily from Walmart’s supercenter model, with a tech-driven twist.

Between the lines: Orland Park’s fast approval and refusal to offer tax incentives shows confidence in the store’s potential. The city required the space to be used for retail—not fulfillment—giving Amazon less room to pivot if it doesn’t succeed.

The bottom line: Amazon’s latest retail move is a full-on attempt to compete in physical retail’s most profitable lane. Whether shoppers switch remains the real test.

 🎉JOIN THE FUN ON INSTAGRAM 🎉

Find us on Instagram @LivingChicagoSuburbs where 90,000+ people love the content! ⤵️

🍔 The Foodie's Guide

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

DINNER

Watch This

🎥 7 Most Frustrating Things About Living in Chicago

📦 Moving to the Chicago Suburbs or thinking about buying or selling a home?
We’d love to help!
Just send us an email at [email protected] or fill out the form here!: https://livinginchicagosuburbs.com/contact/

Market

📊 Real Estate Insights

The real estate market in the Chicago suburbs (especially Naperville, Elmhurst, Wheaton, and Glen Ellyn) remains active and competitive. Whether you're planning to buy or sell, having the right local expert makes all the difference.

Thinking of selling? I’ll craft a strategic marketing plan and help you price your home to attract serious buyers and get the best return.

Ready to buy? With today’s interest rates and available inventory, now could be the perfect time to make your move. I’ll help you find the right home and navigate every step of the process with confidence.

🗞️ In Other News…

Until next Friday, take care and stay curious! 
—Brandon

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