Several Starbucks locations in Massachusetts, including one in an iconic location, are among hundreds that are closing nationwide as part of the coffee giant’s attempt to turn around its struggling business. The company said Thursday it’s closing hundreds of U.S. and Canadian stores and laying off 900 non-retail employees as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround. The Starbucks on Court Street in Boston, which is below the iconic steaming brass kettle in Government Center, is set to close at the end of the weekend. The company’s website shows the shop’s last day in operation is Sunday.The chain’s location on Central Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is also set to close. Sign informing customers about the closings are posted on the doors of the cafes. “We’ve made he incredibly difficult decision to close this Starbucks location by the end of this week. We know this may be hard to hear – because this isn’t just any store. It’s your coffeehouse, a place woven into your daily rhythm, where memories were made, and where meaningful connections with our partners grew over the years. We’re deeply grateful for the community that’s been built here,” the sign read. The note includes a QR code that directs customers to find nearby stores that remain open.The Seattle-based company said store closures would start immediately. Starbucks wouldn’t give a number of stores that are closing, but it said it expects to have 18,300 North American locations when its fiscal year ends on Sunday. As of June 29, the company had 18,734 locations.It was not immediately clear how many of the stores across the country that are closing are unionized. Workers at 650 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021, but they have yet to reach a contract agreement with the company.Workers in its stores will be offered transfers to other locations where possible and severance packages, the company said.Starbucks said it will notify non-retail employees whose positions are being eliminated early Friday. Starbucks said it expects to spend $1 billion on the restructuring, including $150 million on employee separation benefits and $850 million related to the physical store closing and the cost of exiting leases.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Several Starbucks locations in Massachusetts, including one in an iconic location, are among hundreds that are closing nationwide as part of the coffee giant’s attempt to turn around its struggling business.
The company said Thursday it’s closing hundreds of U.S. and Canadian stores and laying off 900 non-retail employees as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround.
The Starbucks on Court Street in Boston, which is below the iconic steaming brass kettle in Government Center, is set to close at the end of the weekend. The company’s website shows the shop’s last day in operation is Sunday.
The chain’s location on Central Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is also set to close.
Sign informing customers about the closings are posted on the doors of the cafes.
“We’ve made he incredibly difficult decision to close this Starbucks location by the end of this week. We know this may be hard to hear – because this isn’t just any store. It’s your coffeehouse, a place woven into your daily rhythm, where memories were made, and where meaningful connections with our partners grew over the years. We’re deeply grateful for the community that’s been built here,” the sign read.
The note includes a QR code that directs customers to find nearby stores that remain open.
The Seattle-based company said store closures would start immediately. Starbucks wouldn’t give a number of stores that are closing, but it said it expects to have 18,300 North American locations when its fiscal year ends on Sunday. As of June 29, the company had 18,734 locations.
It was not immediately clear how many of the stores across the country that are closing are unionized. Workers at 650 company-owned U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since 2021, but they have yet to reach a contract agreement with the company.
Workers in its stores will be offered transfers to other locations where possible and severance packages, the company said.
Starbucks said it will notify non-retail employees whose positions are being eliminated early Friday.
Starbucks said it expects to spend $1 billion on the restructuring, including $150 million on employee separation benefits and $850 million related to the physical store closing and the cost of exiting leases.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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