The company wants to open several large stores in the U.S., starting with Ohio and California, where it is expected to feature its private-label goods prominently, according to people familiar with its plans. (The Wall Street Journal)

Talking point: The company opened its first physical location—a bookstore—in 2015. It has since launched a number of different stores, including Amazon Go, three types of grocery stores and dozens of Amazon 4-Star locations, which stock some of the ecommerce company’s best sellers. Meanwhile, its ecommerce business has surged and the company recently outpaced Walmart as the largest retail seller outside China. Amazon’s new stores will be about 30,000 square feet, so smaller than a typical department store but bigger than its Amazon 4-Star brand. Department stores have struggled as players like Amazon offered more selection, cheaper prices and convenience. Several chains across the U.S. and Canada went under. The report, on which Amazon declined to comment, sent shares of other big-box retailers falling in early trading Thursday before recovering.