Amazon opens first full-size cashierless grocery store in Seattle suburb
By Daniel Uria
JUNE 17, 2021 /

Amazon opens its first full-size Amazon Fresh grocery store in the Seattle area on Thursday. It allows customers to take what they need and walk out, skipping the traditional cashier line. Photo courtesy Amazon

June 17 (UPI) -- Amazon will bring its cashierless "Just Walk Out" checkout technology to a full-size grocery store for the first time on Thursday.

The 25,000-square-foot Amazon Fresh store at The Marketplace at Factoria in Bellevue, Wash., is set to open Thursday, letting customers pay by connecting their Amazon account or credit card before or after entering the store.


Using the "Just Walk Out" system, shoppers scan a QR code and link a payment account. Once inside, each item taken off of the shelf automatically enters a virtual cart -- and vanishes if it's placed back on the shelf.

At the end, shoppers just exit the store and are charged appropriately.
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Amazon has previously launched the technology in various locations but Thursday is the first time it's being expanded to a full-size store.




"Bringing Just Walk Out technology to a full-size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue showcases the technology's continued ability to scale and adapt to new environments and selection," Dilip Kumar, Amazon vice president of Physical Retail and Technology, said in a statement.

"I'm thrilled it'll help even more customers enjoy an easier and faster way to shop and can't wait to get their feedback on this latest Just Walk Out offering."

Although the cashierless feature is a main part of the Washington store, there are traditional checkout lanes staffed with cashiers and other employees inside to help if customers need it.

Amazon says the store will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day following its launch and the company plans to expand into other markets soon.

Amazon opened its first cashierless Amazon Go grocery store in Seattle a little over a year ago -- which was just 10,400 square feet -- and has since opened 13 Amazon Fresh stores in California, Illinois and Virginia.