Starbucks closing 250 stores in major North America shake-up

### Starbucks to Close About 250 North American Stores as Turnaround Strategy Continues

Starbucks plans to close approximately 250 coffeehouses across North America later this week as the company continues efforts to reshape its store network under CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” strategy.

The closures were identified following a review of the company’s North American coffeehouse portfolio, according to Starbucks. Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said some locations were not producing acceptable financial results, while others were unable to consistently deliver the experience Starbucks expects for customers and employees.

The roughly 250 stores represent about 1% of Starbucks’ more than 18,000 coffeehouses across North America. The company has not provided a complete breakdown of the closures by country or disclosed a full official list of affected locations.

Starbucks said the latest closures come roughly a year after it shut 627 stores across North America and Europe and eliminated about 900 non-retail positions. Those cuts were announced in September 2025 as part of the company’s broader effort to improve its operations and restore growth.

The company has been evaluating individual coffeehouses more closely as it invests in remodeling and upgrading its store network. Starbucks expects to complete about 1,500 coffeehouse “uplifts” by September 30, the end of its fiscal year.

Grams said the improvement program has given the company greater visibility into the performance of individual locations and helped identify stores that may no longer fit Starbucks’ financial or customer-experience expectations.

Despite the closures, Starbucks said it remains committed to expanding its North American store base. The company is seeking to concentrate future growth on locations where it believes its stores can provide the desired customer experience while generating sustainable returns.

A list compiled by 13WTHR identified dozens of locations that have been confirmed for closure across the United States and Canada. The locations span states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.

Among the reported U.S. locations are stores in Los Angeles, San Jose, Fresno, Denver, Colorado Springs, New York City, Charlotte, Columbus, Portland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Several Canadian locations are also included in the reported closures, including stores in London, Ontario; Contrecoeur, Quebec; and multiple locations in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The reported list is not necessarily final. 13WTHR said it would update the locations as additional closures are confirmed, while Starbucks has not released a comprehensive companywide list.

For employees working at stores scheduled to close, Starbucks said it would attempt to transfer workers to other coffeehouses when positions are available. Employees who cannot be transferred will receive severance support, the company said.

The latest closures also come amid ongoing labor tensions at Starbucks. More than 700 U.S. stores have voted to unionize since late 2021, but Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United have yet to reach a comprehensive labor agreement.

The company’s store strategy has therefore involved both financial and operational changes as it seeks to improve performance. Starbucks has continued investing in selected locations while removing stores that management says do not meet its financial or customer-service expectations.

The latest round of closures underscores the continuing scale of the restructuring effort launched under Niccol, who became Starbucks’ chief executive in 2024. The company is attempting to streamline its footprint while simultaneously upgrading stores and pursuing growth in its core North American market.