Amazon is closing all its physical bookstores and '4-star' shops

After years of expansion, Amazon is rethinking its retail ambitions. All of the company's physical bookstores, pop-up locations and 4-star shops are closing. In a statement to the New York Times, the company said that it would focus on its Just Walk Out tech, grocery stores and clothing store, and that in-person retail was still important.

Depending on the store, the closing dates will vary. The company said workers may be hired at nearby Amazon shops.

In November 2015, the company opened its first bookstore, and in September of last year it opened its first 4-star store. The in-store selection reflected what was popular or likely to sell, as part of an experiment combining Amazon's online shopping data with the retail world. It is not certain how well they did in practice, but it is safe to say they were not as disruptive as Amazon was.

Amazon isn't worried. The company is still opening more cashier-free Go stores, and third parties are testing Just Walk Out. In 2020 it opened its first Amazon Fresh grocery store. This is more of a shift in strategy than a retreat, even if it suggests some of Amazon's initiatives are more successful than others.