Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Amazon’s 2026 closure decision applied to its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go physical stores, not to Amazon grocery delivery. Amazon says Fresh online ordering remains available in areas it serves, while it shifts its physical-store investment toward Whole Foods Market and expands grocery delivery where available. That distinction matters if you are trying to find a nearby store or work out whether you can still order groceries through Amazon.
What Amazon closed—and what it did not
Amazon announced in January 2026 that it would close its Amazon Go convenience stores and Amazon Fresh grocery stores. The company said these formats had shown encouraging signals but had not produced “a truly distinctive customer experience with the right economic model needed for large-scale expansion.” That is Amazon’s explanation for its decision, not a claim that grocery demand or online grocery shopping had ended. Amazon’s grocery strategy update
GeekWire reported on January 27, 2026, that the closure plan covered 72 U.S. locations: 57 Amazon Fresh stores and 15 Amazon Go stores. Most were expected to close by February 1, while California locations were expected to remain open longer to meet state labor-notification requirements. Those were announcement-period figures and dates; they are not a current store locator or confirmation about any individual former site. GeekWire’s January 27 report
The decision is a change in Amazon’s retail mix, not an announced exit from grocery. Amazon said some former locations would be converted into Whole Foods Market stores, alongside plans to grow Whole Foods and online grocery delivery.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
Can you still order Amazon Fresh groceries?
Yes, where Amazon Fresh online grocery service is available. Amazon’s May 12, 2026 update says Fresh remains available online in the areas it serves. Physical store closures therefore do not, by themselves, mean that online Fresh ordering has ended. Amazon also describes grocery delivery and pickup through Whole Foods Market and local grocery partners; coverage and customer eligibility depend on location and service. Amazon’s grocery strategy update and Amazon’s grocery delivery access update
Amazon said in its May 2026 update that grocery delivery was available in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. That broad figure is not the same as GeekWire’s report that fresh-grocery Same-Day Delivery was available in 2,300 U.S. cities and towns at the time of its January 2026 article. The figures describe different services and reporting dates, so they should not be read as a direct comparison or as a guarantee of availability at a particular address. Amazon’s May 2026 update and GeekWire’s January 2026 report
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Check service and eligibility for your address
- Enter your delivery address in Amazon’s grocery-shopping experience to see which services and stores serve your area.
- Check the listed fulfillment options—delivery, pickup, or both—and the displayed delivery window before building an order.
- Review the customer eligibility shown for that service. Amazon said Fresh delivery and free pickup were opened to all customers in U.S. locations where the service is available to Prime members; its update also described plans to extend Whole Foods delivery and free pickup to non-Prime customers. Because coverage and eligibility can vary, rely on the current options displayed for your address. Amazon’s grocery delivery access update
Where Amazon is putting its grocery-store investment
Amazon’s stated physical-store focus is Whole Foods Market, including its smaller Daily Shop format. In its May 12, 2026 update, Amazon said Whole Foods had more than 550 locations and that it planned to open more than 100 additional stores over the next few years. It also said five Daily Shop locations then existed and that five more were planned by the end of 2026. These are Amazon-reported status and plans, not independently verified completion figures. Amazon’s May 2026 grocery update
Amazon also described online fulfillment as a growth area. The company said it introduced perishable groceries to Same-Day Delivery in 2025 and planned to extend that service to more communities during 2026. Its description includes produce, dairy, meat, baked goods, and frozen foods alongside other Amazon items, with delivery within hours where available. Amazon characterized Amazon Now as a test in several cities offering delivery in roughly 30 minutes or less; it is an experiment, not a universal replacement for a nearby store. Amazon’s May 2026 grocery update
Amazon cited a 40-fold increase in perishable-grocery sales through Same-Day Delivery since January 2025, and said fresh groceries made up nine of the ten most-ordered items in areas where perishables were available through that service. It also reported Whole Foods sales growth of more than 40% since Amazon acquired the chain in 2017. These are company-published figures in Amazon’s May 2026 update, not independently audited comparisons of the remaining shopping options. Amazon’s May 2026 grocery update
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
What the change means for shoppers
- If you relied on an Amazon Fresh or Go storefront: the announced plan covered those physical formats. Use current local listings rather than assuming a former site remains open or has become a Whole Foods.
- If you ordered groceries online: Amazon Fresh ordering continues in areas it serves, and Whole Foods and local grocery partners may offer delivery or pickup depending on address and eligibility.
- If you are weighing Whole Foods against delivery: the closure announcement does not establish a like-for-like price or customer-satisfaction ranking. Compare the options and fulfillment availability shown for your own location.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
