Amazon is closing some Amazon Fresh supermarkets and a handful of Go convenience stores in an effort to cut costs — and the announcement has raised questions about planned Fresh supermarkets in the Alexandria area.
Construction on the Amazon Fresh grocery story in Potomac Yard is nearly complete, but there is no announced opening date for the new store. Amazon had also planned to open a Fresh grocery store in the Bailey's Crossroads neighborhood.
Amazon has not released information on these specific grocery store locations.
The Amazon Fresh at Potomac Yard was to take place of a shuttered Shopper's Food store, which closed in 2020. The Bailey's Crossroads store was to open in a closed Safeway at Crossroads Center.
In an earnings call last week, Amazon announced it would "pause expansion of Fresh stores to examine the business and see if it resonates with customers," CNBC reported.
The Fresh model was to be a grocery store disruptor in the industry, focusing on technology. (A local Realtor took a video guided-tour of the experience when a location opened in Manchester Lakes in the Franconia area — watch the video here.)
Amazon is cutting jobs amidst a contraction in the tech sector this year, and many jobs will come from its grocery and convenience store settings.
No word yet on the future of the Potomac Yard or Bailey's Crossroads stores.
