Amazon Shutting Down Fresh and Go Stores, Laying Off Over 500 Local Workers

The tech giant will close all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores nationwide to focus on Whole Foods Market.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:39pm

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Amazon has announced it will close all of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores nationwide, resulting in the layoff of over 500 local workers in the Sacramento area. The company will shut down three locations in Roseville, Citrus Heights, and Elk Grove, with the layoffs effective on April 28. Amazon is pivoting its focus toward Whole Foods Market, which it owns, and plans to open more than 100 new Whole Foods locations over the next two years.

Why it matters

This decision by Amazon reflects the company's shifting retail strategy as it looks to prioritize its Whole Foods grocery chain over the experimental Fresh and Go store formats. The closures will have a significant impact on the local economy, with over 500 workers losing their jobs in the Sacramento region.

The details

Amazon will be closing three Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores in the Sacramento area - in Roseville, Citrus Heights, and Elk Grove. According to WARN notices filed on Wednesday, a total of 516 workers will be laid off across these three locations. The company did not provide an exact timeline for when the stores will shut their doors, but the layoffs are set to take effect on April 28.

  • Amazon announced the store closures earlier this week.
  • The layoffs of 516 workers in the Sacramento area will be effective on April 28, 2026.

The players

Amazon

A multinational technology company that operates e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence businesses.

Whole Foods Market

A supermarket chain that specializes in organic and natural foods, which is owned by Amazon.

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What’s next

Amazon has not provided details on whether it plans to open any new store formats or focus solely on expanding its Whole Foods footprint in the future.

The takeaway

This decision by Amazon represents a shift in the company's retail strategy, as it looks to prioritize its Whole Foods grocery chain over the experimental Fresh and Go store formats. The closures will have a significant impact on the local economy in the Sacramento region, with over 500 workers losing their jobs.