Amazon to open large physical stores throughout the U.S.

Amazon.com is planning to expand its online shopping empire into brick-and-mortar retail, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The technology giant will open large physical retail locations in the United States, starting with Ohio and California, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The new retail spaces will be around 30,000 square feet — smaller than most department stores, which typically occupy about 100,000 square feet, but far larger than the company’s existing physical retail spaces.

Amazon is expected to sell its own private-label goods, as well as merchandise from top consumer brands.