Starbucks Announces Closure of Over 100 North American Stores
Starbucks has announced the closure of over 100 North American stores, representing approximately 1% of its corporate-owned locations. The company has not released an official list of affected stores; however, Business Insider has compiled a list based on reports from in-store staff, journalist visits, and the Starbucks store locator tool. The closures span several states, including California, Washington, New York, Texas, and Virginia, among others.
Notably, the iconic Capitol Hill Reserve Roastery in Seattle, which opened in 2014, is among the closures. This location was significant not only for its unique offerings but also as one of Starbucks' first unionized stores. Starbucks has stated that the decision to close this store is part of a broader initiative to close underperforming corporate-owned locations across North America. The company emphasized that the union status of the store played no role in the decision, and efforts are being made to reassign affected employees.
The closures are part of a broader restructuring effort by Starbucks, which also includes the layoff of approximately 900 non-retail employees. The company has estimated that the restructuring will cost around $1 billion, including expenses related to employee separation and early lease terminations. Despite these closures, Starbucks plans to open more stores and refurbish over 1,000 existing locations in fiscal year 2026.
