New York City shoppers may no longer need a subscription Prime membership to get their Amazon orders the same day, free of delivery charge.

That's because the online retailer plans to open a physical bookstore at New York City's Hudson Yards development when it opens in 2018 or 2019, according to a report in The New York Post.

"I don't know if the final lease was signed yet, but I know the deal is happening," a source said told the Post. "There's no way that deal is dying."

An Amazon spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumor or speculation. A spokeswoman for Related, the company behind the $20 billion Hudson Yards megadevelopment, said, "When it comes to potential tenants, we can't confirm or deny who we may (or may not) be speaking with."

Amazon got its start as an online bookstore, and has used the fact that it's not bogged down with rent or other store expenses as a means to undercut its traditional competitors on price.



But the retailer opened its first permanent bookstore in Seattle late last year. It will be opening additional stores in San Diego and Portland later this year, spokeswoman Deborah Bass confirmed to CNBC Tuesday.

At the company's shareholder meeting in May, CEO Jeff Bezos said that its Seattle bookstore has been "crowded every day," and is just "another way to serve customers." He added that the company will definitely open additional stores.

Speculation has abounded about Amazon's potential to open a swath physical stores for years, to take away one of the key advantages of its traditional competitors — their wide distribution network. That speculation heated up in earnest back in February, when General Growth Properties CEO Sandeep Mathrani said on a conference call that the company planned to open up to 400 bookstores.

Mathrani later said his comments were not meant to represent Amazon's plans.

In addition to its permanent stores, Amazon has been experimenting with temporary locations, including a pop-up shop at New York's Queens Center Mall.

Update: This story has been updated to include comment from Amazon.