It’s the end of an era for Amazon Go, Amazon’s convenience-store concept. The Seattle-based retail giant announced in late January that it would be closing all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores to focus on same-day fresh grocery delivery and its Whole Foods Market banner.
Amazon Go first debuted in Seattle in 2018. The concept used Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. The checkout-free tech continues to operate in more than 360 third-party locations across five countries, Amazon said.
I visited an Amazon Go store a handful of times. One of its locations was in my train station in Chicago, Ogilvie Transportation Center. The train station seemed like a perfect location for one—commuters could grab a quick snack or breakfast on their way to work, and a forty on their way home (the store had a gated alcohol section).
My favorite feature was the drop-off box for returning Amazon purchases. It was in front of the gates to let you in the store, so you didn’t need to actually swipe in to make a return. It was convenience because I already walked by it several times a week.
In my opinion, the downfall to this type of store was that you had to download the app ahead of time. It acted as your ticket to get into the store and access the automatic payments.
It required some forethought to download the app before visiting. If you’re rushing by on your way to work and don’t already have the app, I’m not sure you’d stop and download it to get a snack when you may pass several other options (a 7-Eleven, a Circle K) on your way to work that don’t require a QR code for access.
Other options
Downtown Chicago offers plenty of options, so I can see why someone might choose a seemingly easier path. Although, of course, you could argue once you do download the app and get comfortable with the system, it’s much faster.
It makes me think of other urban formats for c-stores that work—or don’t.
Foxtrot, for example, was the upscale c-store based in Chicago that shut down all its locations, only to start reopening them again. As I write this column on Jan. 30, I just found out that the Foxtrot location in downtown Chicago’s Willis Tower, which had previously closed, is reopening this week.
I personally am looking forward to returning there for my midday work snacks. I like their unique selections and their proximity to our office. I also already have their rewards program—though I’ll have to see how it’s changed since I last used it before the closures.
Maybe robot-run c-stores are the future.
VenHub Global Inc. just listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. The Las Vegas-based company combines robotics, automation and mobile-first technology. It operates five locations in California, including the Los Angeles Union Station.
Is the vending machine-style option better than Amazon Go’s concept? I haven’t been to one, but I’d be curious to try it.
Amazon isn’t fully turning away from convenience—it will still expand its Whole Foods Market Daily Shop. The stores range between 7,000 and 14,000 square feet, the size of some traditional c-stores.
Maybe the Amazon Go concept was worth its short run because of the Just Walk Out technology. Some c-stores picked it up—I’m curious to see if they’ll keep it, or if they feel like the investment hasn’t paid off.
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