The report by the Wall Street Journal that Amazon plans "several large physical retail locations in the US that will operate akin to department stores,", didn't do much to investors. Share prices saw a 0.4% drop at close compared to Wednesday, August 18. But it set off a lot of interest on the part of the real estate and retail industries.

"When Amazon says they're going to do it, people take notice, Wall Street takes notice, other ecommerce brands take notice," Beth Azor, owner of real estate advisory and investment firm Azor Advisory Services, tells GlobeSt.com. "For all of us that own shopping centers, it's a good thing for us, it's a good thing for the consumer, and it's a good thing for [Amazon's] brand. This is a great thing. They've planted the flag in the sand and said, 'Bricks-and-mortar, this is serious.'"

Not that Amazon will openly talk about any plans. As a company spokesperson says to GlobeSt.com, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation."