Starbucks Accelerates Store Closures Nationwide, Hundreds Shutting Down by Month-End Including Key Chicago Locations

Starbucks is in the final stages of a major restructuring, with hundreds of its U.S. stores slated for closure by the end of September. The sweeping downsizing, part of CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan, is significantly impacting the Chicago metropolitan area, where several beloved locations have already posted closure notices or ceased operations this past weekend.

The company confirmed that many of the closures, which began appearing this week, will be completed by Sunday, September 28th. This includes the Glencoe Starbucks, which served its last coffee on Saturday evening, and the Edgewater location at Clark Street and Ridge Avenue, which also closed its doors. Employees at these shuttered stores are being notified this week regarding potential transfers or severance packages.

First announced in September 2024, the “Back to Starbucks” initiative aimed to enhance in-store experience and financial performance. However, it has led to an estimated $1 billion in restructuring costs and the elimination of 900 corporate positions, alongside an undisclosed number of retail jobs. The company reported a 2% decline in North American same-store sales in the third quarter, signaling the pressure behind these drastic measures.

The decision has drawn strong criticism from Starbucks Workers United, which represents thousands of baristas nationally. The union rallied on Thursday at the now-closed Edgewater store, stating the move indicates the company is going “Backwards at Starbucks” under Niccol’s leadership. Meanwhile, customers in affected communities, like Glencoe, expressed sadness over losing their local coffeehouses, highlighting the community role these stores played.

Starbucks plans to end the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 North American stores, down from 18,734 at the end of the third quarter, and intends to renovate over 1,000 existing locations in the coming fiscal year.

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