Amazon will close all Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores, including the only San Diego location in Poway
Nationwide shutdown of Amazon-branded grocery and convenience stores
Amazon has announced it will close all of its Amazon Go convenience stores and Amazon Fresh grocery stores, ending the company’s Amazon-branded physical grocery footprint in the United States. The decision covers 15 Amazon Go locations and 57 Amazon Fresh stores currently in operation, for a total of 72 sites.
In San Diego County, the change affects the Amazon Fresh store in Poway, located at Twin Peaks Plaza. The Poway site is the only Amazon Fresh store operating in the San Diego area.
Timeline: most stores set to close February 1; California locations to remain open longer
Amazon said the final day of operation for most Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh locations is February 1, 2026. California stores are expected to stay open beyond that date to comply with state requirements, extending operations longer than in most other states.
What Amazon says comes next: delivery, Whole Foods expansion, and conversions
Amazon stated it will refocus its grocery strategy on online grocery delivery, its Whole Foods Market business, and a planned “supersized” physical retail concept. Amazon Fresh online ordering and delivery will continue in areas where the service is available.
The company also said some of the closing Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh sites may be converted into Whole Foods Market stores.
Amazon said it has seen “encouraging signals” in its Amazon-branded physical grocery stores but has not established “a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion.”
Context: a short physical-store run in San Diego County
The Poway Amazon Fresh opened after a lengthy delay and operated as a full-size grocery store, with a footprint reported at roughly 44,500 square feet. It was positioned as a traditional supermarket offering national brands, fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with Amazon’s private-label grocery items. Store operations included technology-enabled shopping features associated with Amazon’s broader retail experimentation.
Operational implications for shoppers and employees
In-store shopping at Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh locations will end as sites close, while Amazon Fresh online ordering is expected to continue where available.
Some communities could see former Amazon Fresh or Go sites re-emerge under the Whole Foods Market banner, depending on conversion plans for specific properties.
The staggered timing in California indicates closures may occur later there than in most states.
Amazon has not provided a store-by-store conversion schedule, nor detailed timelines for the proposed new “supersized” store concept.