Amazon will close its two Amazon Style stores, located in Glendale, Calif. and Columbus, Ohio, by Nov. 9, 2023, according to CNBC and other media outlets. The stores had been open for less than two years: the Glendale location opened in May 2022, although the concept had been reported on as early as January 2022.
“After careful consideration, we’ve decided to close our two Amazon Style physical retail stores and focus on our online fashion shopping experience, where we’re offering new, exciting selection at great value and introducing innovative technology to meet the needs of every customer,” Amazon spokesperson Kristen Kish said in a statement sent to CNBC. “Physical retail remains an important part of our business, and we’re continuing to invest in growing our grocery stores business, which spans Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Go and third-party partnerships.”
The store closures are indicative of the caution (and somewhat mixed signals) Amazon has been sending around its brick-and-mortar retail strategy. In March 2022 Amazon announced the closure of 68 brick-and-mortar stores across multiple formats, and in February 2023 CEO Andy Jassy revealed that the company would temporarily halt expansion of its Amazon Fresh supermarkets and Amazon Go convenience stores. However, by August 2023, Amazon Fresh expanded its delivery services to non-Prime members and unveiled a new store format, and new store openings appear to be in the works.
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