Amazon to Shut All Amazon Go and Fresh Stores Nationwide
Amazon Go Amazon Fresh closing 2026
Amazon announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, that it will shutter all of its Amazon-branded physical grocery and convenience stores as part of a massive overhaul of its retail strategy. The decision impacts all 57 Amazon Fresh locations and the 15 remaining Amazon Go “Just Walk Out” stores across the United States. In an official blog post, the company explained that while its homegrown physical stores provided valuable data and “encouraging signals,” they failed to achieve the necessary economic model for large-scale expansion. Most locations are scheduled to have their final day of operation this Sunday, February 1, though California stores will remain open for an additional 45 days to comply with state labor notification requirements.
The retreat from Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar retail marks the end of a decade-long experiment that began with the opening of Amazon’s first physical bookstore in 2015 and the high-profile launch of its cashierless “Go” technology in 2018. Despite the closures, Amazon emphasized that it is not exiting the physical grocery space. Instead, the company is shifting its resources toward Whole Foods Market, which has seen over 40% sales growth since its acquisition in 2017. Amazon revealed plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods locations over the next few years, including an expansion of its smaller “Daily Shop” convenience format. Additionally, an unspecified number of the soon-to-be-closed Fresh and Go storefronts will be converted into Whole Foods Market locations.
The strategic pivot also places a heavier emphasis on online grocery delivery, which Amazon identified as its most successful grocery format. The company’s same-day delivery service for perishables has grown 40-fold since early 2025 and is now available in over 5,000 U.S. cities. “Speed matters when customers are shopping for essentials,” the company stated, noting that fresh groceries now make up nine of its top ten most-ordered items in eligible same-day delivery areas. By consolidating its physical footprint under the premium Whole Foods brand and focusing on “fast-and-convenient” digital fulfillment, Amazon aims to streamline a grocery division that has struggled to compete with established giants like Walmart and Kroger.
For the thousands of employees affected by the closures, Amazon stated it is working to place staff in other roles within its fulfillment and operations network. The company is offering a severance package that includes 90 days of full pay and benefits. While the “Just Walk Out” technology will vanish from Amazon’s own branded stores, it will continue to exist as an AWS service for third-party retailers, such as airports and stadiums, where it currently operates in more than 360 locations globally. This transition represents the latest “calibration” under CEO Andy Jassy, who has prioritized operational efficiency and high-growth areas like AI and cloud computing over experimental physical retail concepts.
