Amazon Fresh Store Delayed From Possible Bensalem Township Opening

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Bensalem Township officials had heard that an Amazon Fresh grocery store may open at the beginning of November.

But that date came and went. And now with Thanksgiving approaching, it looks like the project for what appears to be an Amazon Fresh at the former K-Mart on Street Road might be delayed for some time.

Bob Norkus, executive director of the Bensalem Economic Development Corp., posted on its Facebook page Tuesday that "Amazon now has all new Amazon Fresh stores on permanent HOLD pending evaluation of the operation."

Norkus said he owned and operated six supermarkets in New Jersey for 25 years and "my intuition tells me the hold is because of lackluster sales."

Norkus said he would provide more information when it becomes available.

A picture of the building on the FYI Bensalem Facebook page showed a sign to read "Opening Soon 2023."

"We don’t have anything to share at this time," Kim Kornfeld, an Amazon spokesperson said when asked by Patch earlier this month when Amazon Fresh might open in Bensalem Township.

She had also told Patch previously that Amazon does "not comment on our future roadmap."

Supervisors recently approved a request from Bensalem MZL, which is developing the property on 1837 Street Rd., for the release $32,785 in escrow for the project.

"The site work is done. It looks nice," Council President Joseph Knowles said at the council's Sept. 27 meeting. "Hopefully they will open soon."

Amazon Fresh signs appear on the front and side of the building and shopping cart corrals have also been added, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

Patch in Bucks County reported last summer that a Warrington Township location off Route 611 was the first Amazon Fresh to open in Pennsylvania.

A review of Amazon Fresh locations on the company's website shows the Warrington one and another in Broomall.

An Amazon Fresh grocery outlet may soon be coming to Willow Grove in Montgomery County as well. The facility is under construction at the former Barnes & Noble Booksellers site in the Willow Grove Shopping Center.