News Summary
Amazon has announced the closure of four Amazon Fresh stores in Southern California, impacting locations in Mission Viejo, La Verne, La Habra, and Whittier by November 16. The company is restructuring its grocery business due to underperforming stores and will assist affected employees in finding new roles. Despite these closures, Amazon will still operate 22 Fresh locations in California and remains dedicated to expanding its grocery operations, including launching a new price-conscious grocery brand.
Mission Viejo, CA – Amazon confirmed it will close four of its Amazon Fresh stores in Southern California as part of a reevaluation of its grocery business. The closures are set to take effect on November 16, 2025, impacting locations in Mission Viejo, La Verne, La Habra, and Whittier. Following these closures, California will retain 22 Amazon Fresh stores.
The specific stores that are slated for closure include:
- Mission Viejo, CA – 26940 Crown Valley Parkway
- La Verne, CA – 2229 Foothill Blvd.
- La Habra, CA – 1610 W. Imperial Highway
- Whittier, CA – 15225 Whittier Blvd.
Amazon is providing assistance to employees affected by the closures, helping them find new roles within the company. This move aligns with Amazon’s ongoing adjustments within its grocery segment, which has faced various challenges in recent years.
The decision to close stores is part of a broader trend, as Amazon also recently closed an Amazon Fresh store in Plainview, New York, on September 28, 2025. After this latest round of closures, Amazon will operate a total of 57 Amazon Fresh locations across the United States, excluding the closed stores, and continues to maintain a warehouse in Tennessee.
Earlier in 2025, Amazon announced plans to close Fresh stores in Thousand Oaks, California, and Manassas, Virginia. The company has also confirmed intentions to shut down 14 Fresh stores in the United Kingdom while converting five of these into Whole Foods Markets.
These closures highlight Amazon’s reevaluation of its grocery chain performance. A spokesperson indicated that not all locations have performed well consistently, prompting cost-cutting measures under CEO Andy Jassy. Despite the closures, Amazon remains committed to investing in its grocery business, which includes expanding same-day perishable food delivery to 1,000 U.S. locations.
Additionally, Amazon recently launched a price-conscious grocery brand that merges Amazon Fresh and Happy Belly products, with most items priced under $5. The first Amazon Fresh store opened in Woodland Hills, California, in August 2020, marking the company’s entry into the grocery business.
Amazon continues to operate around 600 physical stores under its Whole Foods and Amazon brands, with 500 Whole Foods locations still active. The closure of these Fresh stores follows earlier setbacks, including shutting down some Go cashierless convenience stores and removing “Just Walk Out” technology from various locations.
The ongoing changes in Amazon’s grocery strategy include plans to integrate Whole Foods employees into Amazon’s central grocery operations more effectively. These closures and strategic shifts are indicative of continuing challenges within the grocery market and the company’s efforts to adapt to evolving consumer shopping behaviors.
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Additional Resources
- Retail Dive
- The Sun
- CNBC
- Orange County Register
- USA Today
- Wikipedia: Amazon Fresh
- Google Search: Amazon Fresh closings
- Google Scholar: Amazon grocery business
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Amazon.com, Inc.
- Google News: Amazon Fresh closures
Author: STAFF HERE MISSION VIEJO WRITER
MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER The MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMissionViejo.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Mission Viejo, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Oso Fit 5K Fun Run and Community Health Fair, Walk Against Drugs & Community Fair, and National Night Out. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce and Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, plus leading businesses in retail and education that power the local economy such as The Shops at Mission Viejo, Capistrano Unified School District, and Amazon Delivery Station. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
