Amazon Fresh grocery stores across Montgomery County, Maryland are officially closing, and the final days have turned into a clearance frenzy for local shoppers. Deep discounts and limited inventory brought long lines and packed aisles to multiple locations as residents rushed to take advantage of last-chance deals.
Shoppers reported markdowns ranging from 50% to as much as 80% off on groceries, frozen foods, beverages, and household essentials. The heavy discounts quickly emptied shelves at several stores, especially at the Gaithersburg Amazon Fresh, which closed early after running out of inventory.
Amazon Fresh locations in Gaithersburg, White Oak, and Chevy Chase were among those affected by the shutdown. Two Chevy Chase stores, along with the Gaithersburg and White Oak locations, are closing as Amazon exits its standalone Fresh grocery footprint in Maryland.
Lines were seen stretching outside stores as Montgomery County residents waited to get inside, with many shoppers sharing that inventory was selling out within hours. Some customers noted that staff confirmed no restocking was planned, making the discounts strictly first-come, first-served.
The closures mark a significant change in the local grocery landscape. Amazon Fresh entered Montgomery County with high expectations, offering cashier-less technology and a modern shopping experience. However, the company is now shifting its focus away from physical Amazon Fresh stores and toward online grocery services and its Whole Foods locations.
As of now, there has been no confirmation on what will replace the shuttered Amazon Fresh spaces or whether any could reopen under a different grocery brand. For Montgomery County shoppers, the shutdown brings both short-term savings and long-term questions about what retail options will fill the vacant storefronts.
