Fall ResetAmazon USFall reset deals: check better picks before checkoutAmazon US: today's deals, useful picks and quick comparisons.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanFall ResetAmazon USWork and home upgrades are worth comparing todayAmazon US: today's deals, useful picks and quick comparisons.See Picks×
Skip to content
Blog

Amazon’s Cashierless-Store Retreat: What Closed and What Happened to Just Walk Out

By TheFinanceBase Team5 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Amazon’s October 2024 closure of three Amazon Go stores in New York was an early sign of a pullback—not the end of its cashierless technology. Amazon later announced that it would close all of its company-operated Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores, while continuing to offer Just Walk Out to third-party venues. The distinction matters: Amazon retreated from running these store chains, not from the technology itself.

What closed in New York in 2024

Three Amazon Go convenience stores in New York closed in the last week of September 2024. A report published on October 4 put Amazon’s remaining Go footprint at 17 stores nationwide at that time. That figure is historical, not a current store count. TechCrunch’s report said Amazon attributed the closures to lease costs: the stores were performing well, but the economics of renewing their leases did not work.

That explanation does not mean the stores had no customers or sales. It points instead to the difference between demand and profitability: a store can attract shoppers and still be a poor investment if rent and other operating costs outweigh its returns.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Amazon had already cut its Go-store count substantially from 2023 levels, yet the 2024 moves were selective rather than an immediate shutdown. The company retained locations and had opened at least one newer Go store in Washington. In the same period, its strategy for larger grocery stores was also changing.

#1 Best Overall
HECASA Golf Cart Dash Compatible with Medalist/TXT Carbon Fiber Style
  • FITMENT - The golf cart dash compatible with 1994-2013 EZGO Medalist/TXT
  • FEATURE & SPECIFICATION - Cover your old or broken dash, give your car a fresh look. Dash: 41"W x 12.5"H x 7.5"L, Cup Holder: 3"W, Left Lock: 7"W x 5.5"H, Right Lock: 9.5"W x 6"H
  • STYLISH - Made from ABS plastic which is insulating and durable, the carbon fiber style on the surface makes you unique
  • PACKAGE INCLUDED - You will receive 1x Dash with 2 locking glove compartments and 4 cup holders. Hardware and keys are included
  • INSTALLATION - No instructions. Bolt or Tape Installation for convenience. We strongly recommend professional installation

What “cashierless” meant—and what it did not

In a typical Just Walk Out experience, a customer identifies themselves at the entrance using a supported method, takes or returns items, and leaves without going through a conventional checkout. Cameras, sensors and software help determine what the shopper selected, and the associated payment method is charged after the visit.

That checkout-free experience does not mean a store runs without people or operating costs. Inventory, replenishment, customer support, equipment and software all still need attention. The system removes the usual checkout step for shoppers; it does not, by itself, establish that the wider store operation is automated or inexpensive.

Amazon had already changed course in larger Fresh stores

In 2024, Amazon removed Just Walk Out from its larger U.S. Amazon Fresh grocery stores and emphasized Dash Cart, a smart cart that lets shoppers scan items as they shop and check out through the cart. The change was specific to larger U.S. Fresh formats; it should not be read as a simultaneous removal from every Amazon store worldwide or every store format. The Associated Press reported on the shift.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Dr.Acces Golf Cart Front Inner Dash Storage Basket and Rack for EZGO TXT and RXV, Heavy Steel Golf Cart Mesh Basket
  • Unique designed and produced Front Inner Storage Utility Tray Basket for All EZGO TXT and RXV Electric&Gas Models;
  • Can for storing like your phone, keys, glasses,golf balls, drink bottles, and other small items;
  • Package includes: A Storage Basket and all needed Mounting Hardwares.
  • The golf cart front basket for EZGO txt rxv uses high-quality electroplating technology, and the screws are made of stainless steel, which can make your storage basket have stronger corrosion resistance and prolong its service life.
  • Easy to install, Installation step diagram includes, let me know freely if you have any questions, return or replacement freely.

Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh were not interchangeable formats. Go stores were convenience-oriented, while Fresh stores offered a broader grocery experience. The 2024 Fresh technology change therefore signaled a rethink of checkout in larger groceries, but it was separate from the lease-driven closure of the three New York Go stores.

The larger retreat came in January 2026

On January 27, 2026, Amazon announced it would close its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores. Axios reported the scope as 15 Go stores and 57 Fresh stores—72 locations combined. Those are reported counts tied to that announcement, not an independently verified current directory. Amazon said some locations would be converted to Whole Foods Market stores; it did not say every location would become a Whole Foods.

Amazon’s stated rationale was broader than the lease issue behind the New York closures. The company said its branded physical grocery stores had shown encouraging signals but had not produced a sufficiently distinctive customer experience or the economic model needed for large-scale expansion. Amazon’s announcement describes the strategy change; Axios reported the store counts.

Rank #3
Dr.Acces Golf Cart Dashboard for 2008.5+ Club Car Precedent, Tempo & Onward Golf Carts - Includes Locking Doors & Keys
  • Compatibility: Designed to fit perfectly on 2008.5 and newer Club Car Precedent, Tempo, and Onward Golf Carts.
  • Aesthetic Design: Features a sleek carbon fiber print finish that enhances the appearance of your golf cart's dashboard. Made from high-quality ABS plastic for durability.
  • Sun Protection: The advanced material absorbs sunlight effectively, preventing glare and increasing the transparency of your front windshield while protecting the dashboard from UV damage.
  • Easy Installation: Simple setup process with six keys included. Refer to the attached image for size details.
  • Customer Support Guarantee: Reach out to us anytime before or after purchase if you have any questions—we're here to help!

That is more precise than saying that cashierless technology failed. A checkout system can function as intended while the larger retail business—leases, inventory, staffing, assortment and sales volume—does not produce attractive returns. The New York closures were specifically linked to lease economics; Amazon’s 2026 decision addressed the broader economics and customer proposition of its store formats.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Just Walk Out survived the store closures

Amazon continues to sell or deploy Just Walk Out beyond its own Go chain. The company says the technology is operating in more than 360 third-party locations across five countries, including venues such as stadiums, airports and hospitals. Amazon has also described use in employee break rooms at more than 40 North American fulfillment centers. These are Amazon-reported figures, not an independent audit of deployments. Its overview of Just Walk Out and Dash Cart explains the continuing technology business.

There is a strategic difference between running stores and supplying store technology. A company-operated chain carries the direct burden of leases, local operations and merchandise. A technology provider can instead work with venue operators that already have foot traffic and may have simpler assortments or faster transactions. Those factors help explain why the technology could remain useful to partners even as Amazon withdrew from its own stores; they do not prove that every third-party deployment is profitable.

Rank #4
ALMULOO Golf Cart Dashboard Cover Compatible with 2014-Up Express
  • Compatibility: This golf cart dashboard cover is designed to be compatible with 2014-Up EZGO Express S4/L4, S6/L6 models. Please check your vehicle model before purchasing
  • Material: Made from reliable ABS plastic, it provides protection from cracking and fading, supporting long-term performance in different weather conditions, making it suitable for outdoor use year-round. It features a sleek carbon fiber style color print, adding a modern, sporty feel to your dashboard and updating your golf cart's appearance with a clean, custom aesthetic
  • Function: It reduces the intrusion of dirt into the internal technical devices of the dashboard, helping to keep them in good working condition. It also covers up the flaws of the dashboard (such as minor scratches, wear and tear, etc.) to make the dashboard look cleaner and more attractive
  • Easy Installation: Usage with screws, which is easy and quick. Drilling into the dash cover is required to complete installation
  • Package Include: 1 x dashboard cover. Does not include installation accessories and usage instructions, requires manual installation by oneself

What Amazon is doing instead

Amazon’s announced priorities include expanding Whole Foods Market, growing its smaller Whole Foods Market Daily Shop format, increasing fresh-grocery delivery and exploring other physical grocery concepts. In an update dated May 12, 2026, Amazon said Daily Shop had five locations, with five more planned by the end of 2026. It also said it planned more than 100 additional Whole Foods stores over the next few years. These are company plans, not completed openings.

Amazon also said it intended to expand same-day fresh-grocery delivery to more communities in 2026 and offered fast grocery delivery in more than 5,000 U.S. cities and towns. The company described other physical concepts—including Amazon Grocery ideas associated with Whole Foods and a possible larger store combining groceries, household essentials and general merchandise—as explorations, not established national chains.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What the closures mean

The 2024 New York closures were not proof that nobody wanted checkout-free shopping: Amazon cited lease costs even while describing the stores as performing well. The 2026 shutdown was a broader decision that Amazon’s own Go and Fresh formats did not have the customer proposition and economics it wanted for expansion. Neither event establishes that the underlying technology was useless.

For shoppers, the practical outcome is that Amazon’s branded Go and Fresh physical-store network is closing, while Whole Foods, delivery and other experiments become more central to its grocery strategy. For retailers and venue operators, Just Walk Out remains an Amazon technology offering. Running a cashierless store chain and providing checkout technology are separate businesses—and Amazon’s retreat from the first did not end the second.

Quick Recap

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.

Written by TheFinanceBase Team

The Team behind TheFinanceBase.

Add your note

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.