Is Amazon Planning Brick-and-Mortar Bookstore in Old Pasadena?

Amazon, the Seattle-based e-commerce retailer, is reportedly eyeing Old Pasadena as a top location for one of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, various media reports indicated.

One report cites local real estate brokers who say Amazon has been scouting potential sites for its bookstore in Pasadena since last year.

Derrick Moore, principal of urban properties at Avison Young in Los Angeles, told the Pasadena Star-News that the retailer was looking for ground-floor space of about 5,000 square feet.

Moore said Amazon representatives preferred Old Pasadena because “it has the demographics and co-branding they were looking for.”

Moore said the representatives were looking at a corner space near 88 W. Colorado Blvd. where a Kenneth Cole store had been located, as well as the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Fair Oaks Avenue where a 800 Degrees Pizza site used to be.

Pasadena’s economic development manager Eric Duyshart also told the newspaper that an Amazon broker was scouting for space in Pasadena last year but did not offer any indication of their preference.

Amazon opened its first brick-and-mortar Amazon Books store in Seattle in November 2015. In California, Amazon Books has a store at La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego. Another California location is planned at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek, Amazon said.

On its website, the company said Amazon Books is an extension of Amazon.com and integrates the benefits of offline and online shopping. Books are placed face-out in the shelves and under each book is a review card with an Amazon.com customer rating and a review.

Most of the books in the store have been rated four stars and above and many are award winners, the company said.