SEATTLE — Amazon.com Inc. confirmed Friday that it will close six Whole Foods Market locations across four states.
“As we continue to position Whole Foods Market for long-term success, we regularly evaluate the performance and growth potential of each of our stores, and we have made the difficult decision to close six stores,” a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a prepared statement, obtained by AL.com.
“We are supporting impacted Team Members through this transition and expect that all interested, eligible Team Members will find positions at our other locations,” the statement continued.
The shuttered locations include stores in Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama; Tarzana, California; Brookline, Massachusetts; and the Englewood and DePaul neighborhoods of Chicago, Bloomberg reported.
According to the news outlet, five stores will close by May 6, but a timeline has not been set for the Englewood store beyond several months.
Amazon acquired Whole Foods for $13 billion in 2017 and will still maintain more than 500 of the upscale grocer’s locations following the six closures, as well as more than 20 of its own Amazon Fresh supermarkets scattered across California, Illinois and the mid-Atlantic region.
Friday’s news came nearly two months after Amazon announced plans in March to close its physical bookstores, “Amazon 4-Star” locations and pop-up kiosks in malls.
>> Related: Amazon closing its physical stores, including 4-star and pop-up shops
According to AL.com, Whole Foods currently operates 530 locations in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, and Alabama will maintain stores in Mountain Brook and Huntsville following the announced closures.
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday called Amazon’s decision “disappointing.”
“Together with both communities and local elected leaders, my administration will work to repurpose these locations in a way that continues to serve the community and support the surrounding businesses,” Lightfoot said in a prepared statement.
“We as a city will continue to work hard to close food deserts that meet community needs with community at the table,” she added.
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