Overview

• Local outlets have verified closures across multiple cities, including 34 locations in New York City, six in Baltimore, three in Pittsburgh, and stores in Tyler and Crockett, Texas.
• The company plans to reduce its North American footprint by about 1%, ending the fiscal year with fewer than 18,300 stores, and eliminate roughly 900 non-retail roles.
• CEO Brian Niccol said targeted shops lack a viable path to financial performance or the desired coffeehouse environment, with more than 1,000 locations slated for redesign over the next year.
• Starbucks Workers United organized rallies in cities such as Los Angeles and Philadelphia as contract negotiations have been stalled since December, with union leaders preparing for potential strikes.
• Starbucks says affected employees will be offered transfers where possible and severance if not, while workers have filed lawsuits over a new dress code that they say required unreimbursed purchases.