Amazon closes bookshops and four-star stores

Amazon has announced it is closing all 68 of its physical bookshops and four-star shops. 

However the online retailer will continue to pursue other store chains including Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go. The move affects 66 stores in the US and two in the UK, in Westfield, London, and Bluewater, Dartford.  

A spokesperson said: “We’ve decided to close our Amazon four-star, Books and Pop Up stores, and focus more on our Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Go and Amazon Style stores, and our ‘Just Walk Out’ technology. 

“We remain committed to building great, long-term physical retail experiences and technologies, and we’re working closely with our affected employees to help them find new roles within Amazon.” 

Closures dates will vary by location, according to Reuters, which first reported the news. 

Amazon opened its first brick-and-mortar bookstore in 2015, two decades after it began selling books online. Amazon’s four-star shops first appeared in 2018, carrying a limited selection of bestselling products from top categories that Amazon.com sells, including devices, consumer electronics, toys and games. 

The first four-star store outside the US opened in Bluewater shopping centre near Dartford in October last year.  

Reuters reported that Amazon’s physical stores revenue made up just 3% of its $137bn (£102bn) in sales in the last quarter.