Starbucks Is Abruptly Closing 16 Locations—Here's Why
Starbucks has always advertised as a community centre. This "third place between work and home" has superb Wi-Fi and is perfect for
coffee chats with friends and neighbors. That image is disintegrating in locations where staff and guest safety is a major concern.
Starbucks said on Oct 11 that it will permanently close 16 metropolitan stores with high violence. It has six locations in Seattle, its hometown.
According to The Wall Street Journal, six Los Angeles stores, two Portland stores, and one Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. store will close permanently.
A Starbucks spokesperson said drug usage, theft, and assault were common in these stores.
Employee crime complaints and the chain's failed attempts to lessen them prompted the closures.
The coffee business said in June that it may adjust its open-to-all bathroom policy to improve safety. The company adopted the more inclusive policy in 2018
after two Philadelphia store customers were arrested for using the bathroom without buying anything generated public outrage.
Due to barista safety concerns, CEO Howard Schultz stated the firm may not be able to keep its bathrooms available.
The company's image is damaged by the safety crisis, rising unionization, and chicken sandwich disaster. Starbucks appears to be rethinking its strategy.