Amazon has officially opened its first New York Amazon Fresh in Oceanside. Its grand opening on Thursday morning attracted a long line of customers for free samples and special offers in celebration.
The grocery store offers a “just walk out” shopping experience as well as traditional checkout methods. Grand opening festivities will extend through the weekend and include giveaways, free samples, and sales, including Prime Day deals of up to 50% off on select items.
Oceanside resident Raymond Deleo said he had a “nice experience shopping there” on the morning of Amazon Fresh’s opening and that it was “very easy to shop with the Amazon app.”
The new store uses special technologies, which combine computer vision, sensors, and deep learning, to sense which items customers place in their carts. The items are then charged to a customer’s Amazon account, so they can simply bag their groceries and walk out.
Amazon Fresh in Oceanside began hiring in May with starting wages at $16.45/hour. It will also donate surplus food to area food banks, the company said.
“This new store will be a great opportunity for creating jobs and boosting our local economy, and we wish Amazon the best of luck here in America’s largest township,” Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin said in a statement.
The store has typical grocery store products such as 365 by Whole Foods Market organics, national brands such as Coca-Cola and Kraft Mac and Cheese, and some local favorites, as well as Amazon-exclusive brands such as Aplenty, Cursive, and Fresh.
Amazon Fresh accepts cash, SNAP/EBT, credit or debit card, or the In-Store QR code in the Amazon app. Prime members get 20% off discounts.
The store is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 3620 Long Beach Rd. in Oceanside.
