First Robotic Convenience Store at U.S. Apartment Community Debuts in Fort Worth via Property Management Insider

Property Management Insider is pleased to introduce Tim Blackwell as a contributing editor and news reporter. His debut article is a follow up to “Are Robotic Convenience Stores the Next New Amenity for Apartment Properties?”

FORT WORTH, Texas — The first robotic convenience store installed at a U.S. apartment community has drawn curious looks and plenty of press from Dallas/Fort Worth media. And one thing is for sure – kids like it.

Takis, a spicy Mexican chip, has been a favorite among young consumers since the store opened February 9 at Ladera Palms, an 800-unit apartment complex in southeast Fort Worth. The kiosk-style unit, which occupies about 40 square feet next to the leasing office, is already making money and will be officially unveiled February 17 at a grand opening to showcase about 200 items from snacks to laundry detergent on sale for residents.

“It’s been amazing,” said property manager Laurel Santiago. “People are attracted to it because they’ve never seen anything like it before. There is something about standing in front of something where you live and being able to buy things that you haven’t ever seen in a machine like it.”

The Robotic Ultra Convenience Store, which is manufactured by Ohio-based Shop24 Global, occupies about 40 square feet outside the gated community’s leasing office and is a vending machine on steroids. A robotic arm fetches items for a complete meal or household items around the clock from a climate controlled storage unit.

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