Amazon To Shut Down All Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh Stores (wsj.com)
(Tuesday January 27, 2026 @11:40AM (msmash)
from the strategy-shift dept.)
- Reference: 0180665534
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/01/27/1625211/amazon-to-shut-down-all-amazon-go-and-amazon-fresh-stores
- Source link: https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/amazon-to-shut-down-all-amazon-go-and-amazon-fresh-stores-0301dfb7?st=VV83xE&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Amazon is [1]closing all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores in a shift to focus on its online same-day delivery service and new big-box retail stores. From a report:
> The e-commerce giant said Tuesday that some of its shuttered Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar stores would be converted into Whole Foods Market locations. Amazon said its branded stores failed to deliver the right economic model and distinctive customer experience necessary for large-scale expansion.
>
> Amazon's same-day delivery service for groceries is currently available in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. The company said it plans to expand the service to more communities in 2026 but didn't specify where. Amazon said it planned to open over 100 new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/amazon-to-shut-down-all-amazon-go-and-amazon-fresh-stores-0301dfb7?st=VV83xE&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
> The e-commerce giant said Tuesday that some of its shuttered Amazon-branded brick-and-mortar stores would be converted into Whole Foods Market locations. Amazon said its branded stores failed to deliver the right economic model and distinctive customer experience necessary for large-scale expansion.
>
> Amazon's same-day delivery service for groceries is currently available in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. The company said it plans to expand the service to more communities in 2026 but didn't specify where. Amazon said it planned to open over 100 new Whole Foods Market stores over the next few years.
[1] https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/amazon-to-shut-down-all-amazon-go-and-amazon-fresh-stores-0301dfb7?st=VV83xE&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Creepy (Score:2)
Getting at home deliveries and expanding Whole Foods seems a lot more reasonable than trying to push the just walk out creepiness. No surprised that it wasn't a winning idea.
Also Amazon as a brand has a negative connotation to most people, but they win out over their competitors because of their shipping rates and speeds. But in the brick and mortar space that has other options that are as equally convenient and less creepy, not surprising that they aren't keeping up.