Amazon Fresh, Arlington nonprofit to lay off 200+ workers in Northern Virginia

An Amazon Fresh store in Manassas is closing, and an Arlington County nonprofit is laying off 149 employees due to federal funding cuts, the two employers disclosed in WARN notices to a state agency this week.

The Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, aka Virginia Works, posts federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining (WARN) Act notifications it receives from employers that expect to lay off a significant number of workers either because of reductions in force or a business’ closure.

The state agency received a WARN letter from Amazon on March 12 that it plans to lay off 88 workers at 7807 Sudley Road in Manassas, an Amazon Fresh store, effective May 13. The store will close March 16, Inside NoVa reported. It opened in 2022.

American Institutes for Research (AIR), a nonprofit that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance in the areas of education, health and the workforce, will lay off 149 employees on May 9, according to a WARN letter received by the commonwealth March 11. The employees work on the 10^th floor at 1400 Crystal Drive in Arlington County.

“Like many organizations, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) has had to make difficult decisions in response to recent federal funding cuts, including reducing our workforce by 18%,” Jessica Heppen, president and CEO of AIR, said in a statement. “AIR’s reduction in force affected many talented professionals who were committed to meeting the needs of our clients and the communities we serve. While extremely difficult, these reductions were necessary as we adjust to an evolving landscape for federal contractors.”

The Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement announced March 14 that 4,036 unemployment insurance weekly initial claims were filed during the week ending March 8, which is 40.1% higher than the previous week’s 2,881 claims and 81.1% higher than the comparable week of last year. 

Amazon Fresh stores are physical grocery stores where customers can shop. The 44,600-square-feet Manassas store is located at Sudley Manor Square, which is managed by Seneca Properties.

Amazon Fresh has other stores in Virginia in Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Franconia and Lorton, according to its website.

“Certain store locations work better than others, and after an assessment of our offering we’ve decided to close our Amazon Fresh store in Manassas,” Amazon said in a statement. “Customers in the area can continue to shop from a wide selection of grocery products at Amazon.com/grocery with same-day delivery options, or from our other Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market stores in the area. We remain committed to Amazon Fresh and our broader grocery strategy, and will continue to refine our portfolio of stores as we learn which locations and features resonate most with customers.”

Amazon noted in its WARN letter that the layoffs are expected to be permanent. The positions being cut include 16 food production associates, 65 retail store associates and seven managers.