Just a few weeks into 2026, Amazon has made a major shift in its retail strategy by announcing the closure of all Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores. Instead, the company will focus on growing its Whole Foods Market chain, which it acquired in 2017.
Amazon Closes Go and Fresh Stores
Amazon confirmed on Tuesday that most of its Go and Fresh brick-and-mortar stores will shut down by February 1, 2026, with some California stores staying open a bit longer due to state labor laws. This includes two Amazon Go stores in East Pierce County, Washington, located at:
- 15518 Meridian E.
- 17710 Canyon Road E.
These stores opened in 2022 but didn’t last long. As of last year, Amazon had already cut its Go locations to fewer than 20 across the U.S.
Why Is Amazon Closing These Stores?
In its official statement, Amazon said that while its stores showed promise, they didn’t deliver a “distinctive customer experience” or the right economic model for large-scale growth. So, the company decided to stop expanding its Amazon-branded grocery stores.
Instead, Amazon plans to grow Whole Foods in a big way. The retail giant says it will open over 100 new Whole Foods Market locations in the coming years. This includes expanding the Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, which offers a wide range of natural and organic groceries at lower prices.
In Pierce County, there is currently only one Whole Foods store, located at:
- 3515 Bridgeport Way W., University Place.
Amazon’s Grocery Strategy Is Going Online
While physical Fresh and Go stores are shutting down, Amazon Fresh will still operate online in selected areas. The company says it will continue offering online grocery delivery, where available.
Amazon is also working to help employees at the closing locations. They’re offering workers the chance to find new jobs within Amazon’s large operations network.
What About the Technology from Go Stores?
The Amazon Go stores played a key role in developing “Just Walk Out” — the checkout-free shopping technology. This tech lets customers grab items and leave the store without waiting in line. Amazon says this system is still being used in over 360 third-party locations across five countries, so it’s not going away anytime soon.
No Redevelopment Plans Yet
As of now, no new permits or redevelopment plans have been filed for the soon-to-close Amazon Go stores in Pierce County.
Big-Box Store Still in the Works
Despite closing Go and Fresh stores, Amazon isn’t stepping away from retail completely. It still plans to open a new big-box store outside Chicago, reportedly larger than a typical Walmart Supercenter. This store is expected to sell groceries, household goods, and general merchandise.
