Starbucks Will Close 250 More Stores

Starbucks has made cuts before. Last September, it closed 627 stores in North America and Europe and laid off 900 employees who did not work in its shops. In May, it cut another 300 office jobs. The company has also been redesigning its coffee shops to make them feel cozier, and it expects the work to be finished in 1,500 stores by September 30, the end of its fiscal year. There is also tension with workers: more than 700 US stores have voted to join a union since late 2021, but Starbucks does not support this, and no agreement has been reached.

Starbucks says it will move affected workers to other stores where possible and give the rest severance pay. It still plans to open more stores in North America. Its shares rose by less than 1% that day. For some customers, the news feels personal. In Burbank, in the Los Angeles area, a much-loved Starbucks nicknamed "Bobbucks", because it stands next to the famous Bob's Big Boy restaurant, closed on Saturday after nearly 30 years. One customer praised its large windows and natural light. The New York Post says Starbucks has not confirmed whether this store is one of the 250.