Amazon Go

Amazon Go was a chain of convenience stores in the United States and the United Kingdom, operated by the online retailer Amazon. These stores were special because they were cashierless, meaning customers could pick up their items and leave without paying at a checkout counter. Instead, customers used an app on their phones to enter the store and scan items as they picked them up. When they left the store, the app automatically charged their account.

The idea for Amazon Go came from a team of Amazon executives who built a mock supermarket in Seattle to test the technology. The first Amazon Go store opened to employees on December 5, 2016, and to the public on January 22, 2018. These stores sold prepared foods, meal kits, groceries, and liquor. A larger version called Amazon Go Grocery opened in Seattle in 2020.

In 2026, Amazon decided to close all Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh stores. The company announced this change on January 27, 2026, and all stores closed by February 1, 2026. Amazon planned to focus instead on growing its Whole Foods business.

Technology and implementation

Amazon Go stores used special technology like cameras, smart sensors, and software to let customers shop without needing to talk to a cashier. When you entered the store, you would use a phone app to show a special code. The store could track what items you picked up and add them to your phone's list. When you left, the bill would show up on your phone.

The stores also used tools to keep track of items on the shelves and make sure everything was counted correctly. This helped make shopping faster and easier for everyone.

Locations

As of March 2024, there were 22 Amazon Go stores in the United States and 20 in the United Kingdom.

Amazon Go's special way of shopping, called "Just Walk Out", is also used in other stores and places like airports and sports venues. This lets people grab what they need and leave without stopping at a checkout counter.

Stores

Amazon Go was a chain of special convenience stores created by Amazon. These stores were unique because customers could shop without needing to wait in line at a cash register. Instead, they could simply take their items and leave, with the payment processed automatically through an app on their phone.

The very first Amazon Go store opened in Seattle in January 2018, after a testing period for Amazon employees. It was a small store, about the size of a typical corner shop. Over time, Amazon opened more stores in places like Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and New York City. Some of these stores were larger, offering more items, including fresh food and baked goods.

However, in 2023, Amazon announced the closure of several Amazon Go stores in Seattle, New York City, and San Francisco. Later, in 2024, it was revealed that the technology behind these stores, known as "Just Walk Out," sometimes needed help from workers to check transactions, even though it was advertised as fully automatic. Amazon also planned to use a new system called Dash Carts in its Fresh stores to improve shopping experiences.