Some waited all night for Amazon Fresh opening in Citrus Heights

By Sara Beth Williams–
A long line of shoppers could be seen assembled in front of Amazon Fresh prior to the store opening for the first time Thursday morning in the Sunrise Village shopping center, with the line extending all the way to the former Rite Aid.

The grocery store, situated in a building formerly occupied by JoAnn’s Fabrics, has been under construction for months and announced plans to open on Nov. 7.

While shoppers waited in line Thursday, an Amazon Fresh staff member announced on a microphone that some shoppers had set up outside the store as early as the night before, hoping to be first in line to receive a free gift card. According to Amazon Fresh advertising and local news reports, the first 100 customers received door prizes such as gift cards of varying values.

After a ceremonial ribbon was cut at 8 a.m., shoppers were allowed to enter. A long exit line inside the store was also observed, with shoppers having to stand in the checkout line for more than thirty minutes.

The new grocery store offers a wide assortment of “national brands and high-quality produce, meat, and seafood,” as well as a range of prepared foods made fresh in store every day.

According to a submitted letter by Amazon Fresh to the City of Citrus Heights, the grocer will also sell beer, wine, and spirits and provide “limited alcohol instructional tastings” in a designated alcohol sampling area. Tastings will be small samples and be offered by trained beverage suppliers or employees to customers 21 years and older, in accordance with Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations.

Amazon Fresh opened its first location in Woodland Hills in September 2020 and has since been joined by more than 40 locations in California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington State, and New Jersey, as well as the Washington, D.C. area.

Amazon Fresh is located at 5425 Sunrise Blvd. and has hours listed as 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.