Amazon Fresh grocery stores closing: what’s happening, when, and how to check “near me”

Amazon is moving to shut down its Amazon Fresh brick-and-mortar grocery chain in the U.S., a pivot that has sparked a spike in searches for amazon fresh grocery stores closing, amazon fresh closing, and amazon fresh near me. The company’s plan is to exit the physical Fresh format quickly—while keeping grocery delivery and pickup options alive through its online service and shifting its long-term store growth to Whole Foods.

Most closures are slated to take effect by Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), though timing can vary by location.

Amazon Fresh closing timeline and scope

Amazon has said it will close its remaining physical Amazon Fresh supermarkets and Amazon Go convenience stores, after concluding the Fresh store model didn’t scale with the kind of differentiated experience and economics it wanted. The change is broad: it’s not a handful of underperforming stores—it’s essentially the physical chain.

The key date customers keep seeing is Feb. 1, 2026, which is when most locations are expected to stop operating. The company has also indicated that a limited number of sites may remain open longer in California due to state requirements that can affect closure timelines and employee notice obligations.

Which stores are affected, and why some could close later

Because Amazon Fresh store footprints are concentrated in a smaller set of metro areas than traditional grocers, the impact is uneven: some regions will see multiple closures, while many states never had a Fresh store at all. In addition to Fresh supermarkets, the plan covers the remaining Amazon Go stores.

California is the main exception people are noticing. Even if a store is “on the closure list,” final operating days can differ if local rules require additional notice periods, landlord handoffs, or staged shutdowns of staffing and on-site systems. That means a location might still appear open briefly after other regions have already gone dark.

What changes for delivery, pickup, and Prime grocery perks

Amazon is not exiting grocery. The company is keeping Amazon Fresh online ordering in place where it currently operates and says it plans to expand same-day grocery and household delivery to additional areas. For customers, that means:

• If you used a physical Fresh store for weekly shopping, you may be pushed toward delivery or pickup where available.

• If you already used delivery, your day-to-day experience may change less—though fulfillment may shift to different facilities or partners depending on the market.

• Promotions, minimum order thresholds, and delivery windows can change quickly during transitions, especially if demand spikes when local stores close.

For many shoppers, the practical question becomes: “Will I still see Fresh as an option at checkout?” In markets where Amazon continues grocery delivery, Fresh should remain selectable; in others, Whole Foods delivery or third-party marketplace options may be the default.

Whole Foods becomes the in-person growth engine

Amazon’s strategy is consolidating around Whole Foods Market as the primary physical grocery brand. Some closed Fresh or Go sites may be converted into Whole Foods stores, and Amazon has also highlighted its smaller-format Whole Foods concept (often positioned for quick trips and prepared foods) as a growth area.

This matters for neighborhoods that had an Amazon Fresh: a conversion could preserve a grocery footprint in the same building, but not necessarily with the same pricing, product mix, or loyalty structure customers associated with Fresh.

How to check “Amazon Fresh near me” during closures

If you’re searching amazon fresh near me, the most reliable approach right now is to cross-check status in two places—because listings can lag during fast closures:

1. Amazon’s store page or the Amazon app: Look for store hours and whether the location is still accepting pickup orders. If pickup is unavailable or hours are removed, closure may be imminent even if signage hasn’t changed yet.

2. Map listings and the store phone number: Hours can temporarily show “open” due to outdated data; a recorded message or updated hours often reflects reality faster.

If you’re trying to buy in person one last time, also watch for limited inventory in late-stage closure days—particularly in perishables and prepared foods—and be prepared for reduced staffing.

Key takeaways

• Most physical Amazon Fresh locations are expected to stop operating by Feb. 1, 2026 (ET), with some California locations potentially on a different timeline.

• Amazon Fresh grocery delivery is expected to continue online in markets where it’s already offered.

• Amazon is shifting physical grocery growth to Whole Foods, including conversions of some former Fresh/Go sites.

Sources consulted: About Amazon (Company News), The Associated Press, Axios, The Verge, The Wall Street Journal, Grocery Dive