Bucktown Kohl's Store Opens Amazon Smart Home Space

CHICAGO, IL — The Bucktown Kohl's store is one of six in the Chicago area that now include Amazon stations to allow customers to return purchases, as well as feature smart home products from the dot-com giant. The new additions are part of a partnership between the Wisconsin-based bricks-and-mortar retailer and its online counterpart to open Amazon Smart Home Experience spaces in Kohl's across the country. The Bucktown store, 2140 N. Elston Ave., is joined by locations in Elmhurst, Norridge, Chicago Ridge, Tinley Park and Highland, Indiana, as part of the program's initial push.

"The new store-within-a-store delivers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for our customers," a Kohl's press release stated announcing the opening of the spaces.

Along with accepting returns of Amazon merchandise for free, these 1,000-square-foot stations also will have the company's online home products for sale, including the Echo, Echo Dot and Fire tablets. The stations will let customers "test drive" the devices before buying them, as well. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest Tinley Park news. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

RELATED: Kohl's To Open Amazon Shops In Illinois Stores

Eventually, Kohl's and Amazon plan to roll out 82 smart home spaces in stores across the country. Four Los Angeles locations also opened stations Wednesday.

The following is a list of the six Chicago-area locations:

• Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood: 2140 N. Elston Ave.
• Norridge: 4220 N. Harlem Ave.
• Chicago Ridge: 9700 S. Ridgeland Ave.
• Highland, Indiana: 10353 Indianapolis Blvd.
• Elmhurst: 303 S. Route 83
• Tinley Park: 7500 W. 191st St., Tinley Park, IL 60477

The Amazon Smart Home Experience space at the Kohl's store in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. (Photo via Kohl's)

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