South Philly sees city’s first robotic convenience store

South Philly’s newest convenience store, at a minuscule 130 square feet, is the antithesis of big-box retail.

Since mid-November, residents of The Enclaves (3900 Gateway Drive) and The Gateway Towers (3600-3800 Sheaff Lane) have been able to get their mayonnaise, tampons and cat food just steps away from their front door.

Slip in a couple bucks or drop in a few coins, and the Shop24, a hulking, 9-foot-tall vending machine, can convey to you any number of the 200 go-to items stocked on its robotic shelves. We’re not sure who checks your ID if you need to buy a lighter, though.

NewsWorks’ Joann Colameco and Charlie Kaier visited with a resident of The Enclaves to find out more about the mechanical shop.