Amazon Opens New Go Store Despite Announced Pause in Grocery Expansion

Amazon has opened a new Amazon Go store in the Tacoma suburb of Puyallup, Wash., according to reporting in Supermarket News and other outlets. The opening, which took place Sept. 26, 2023, comes despite Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s February 2023 announcement that the retailer would halt expansion of its Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go store footprints. Amazon had announced plans to close eight Amazon Go stores in March 2023 and reportedly closed a Seattle location in June 2023.

The 3,800-square-foot Puyallup store is equipped with the Amazon Just Walk Out cashierless checkout technology and offers grab-and-go food as well as a made-to-order kitchen serving breakfast, sandwiches and wraps. The store’s assortment also includes products from local Washington State businesses, including Georgetown Brewing and Gilbert Cellars.

Amazon appears to be putting more of its corporate weight behind its Amazon Fresh banner, with a new store design and an expansion of delivery services to non-Prime members announced in August 2023. The company also has been expanding use cases for its Just Walk Out technology, adding RFID tags on apparel items to support cashierless commerce at two Seattle sports venues.