Starbucks begins to notify stores targeted for closure

An official list of the locations hasn't been released, but Starbucks says it expects to announce which cafes are up for closure in early April. If you know for sure of stores that are closing, please post them here. || Read "Starbucks begins to notify cafes targeted for closure" || Jump to the second page of comments.

Comments

[lmd]

what is hardest for me is the "what if i am not transferred?" i am almost 51..i love my job as a shift, was going to go for ASM...i would gladly stay even if i got demoted because i NEED this job, i need the benefits and right now, here in stockton, CA jobs are not that easy to come by..specially at my age. everyone wants the young ones

[prime mover]

why not fire all the DMs and make managers take a video conference call every monday from seatle? seems like it would make more sense to me. my DM couldn't do my job on her best day with my best crew.... she's a complete waste

[lei]

The Starbucks I have been working at here for the past year is closing on April 30. We were asked not to really say anything until monday which I believe is when the list of closing stores will be made public...Im not so sure about Starbucks right now. First they cut my hours to 1 to 2 days a week to hire new employees to work fulltime (I actually worked for Starbucks 2 years at a different store before this one). Now I am hearing that our main office knew about our store closing a week ago. At this time I was told there was openings at the stores near us but instead of letting us know our store will be closing they decided to fill those stores positions first then told us we were closing now leaving us without any options in our area. Hopefully the person who told me this misinterpreted what they were told. But if it's true...I dont know what to say.

[no name]

We just got notice that they are closing the ritz carlaton store in dana point ca and camino capistrano store in ca

[Zelda Rose]

Oh, great.

First, I lost the Starbucks closest to my house (<1mi.) that had been open under a year. Then the next closest one closed. And the one near where I shop for groceries. Now, the nearest Starbucks is five miles away. Maybe they'll let THIS ONE stay open?

[no name]

were do you live ?

[(former) FLA SM]

The Starbucks in Brooksville, FL is closing, according to Tampabay.com

[Sadface]

I guess my store in Garden Grove (Garden Grove and Haster) is closing.

[ex coffee wench]

former fla sm

what part of fl? no that you can talk. i was in north tampa before i gave up the kool aid.

[Closed Stores]

Seymour TN is closing. It's posted on-line.

[Noor]

Kris- The cups for the Barnes & Noble "serving" cafés are short and squat, making them appear smaller. (Also they're missing some menu items, and I belive the prices have a slight difference) The volume is the same, and you can bet that if Starbucks ever reduced the size of their beverages, there would be a lot of media jokes and tearing out their hair and throwing ashes on their heads over it. Then all the talk radio hosts would begin a cycle of reusing each other's jokes for at least a two week period.

[asdf]

store 5598
2 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA

:(

[Freed Peaberry]

My old store is closing and it's bittersweet. The manager is less than competent yet the staff was top notch. They all had years invested and now, nothing. The store was the black sheep of the area, so I'm really hoping most of them can get into another store.

I was also told another store in the same district is on a watch list? Are there spots being left available on the closure list?

I guess it is a good thing I vacated when I did.

Feelin' for those of you losing your jobs.

[Helpus!]

I'm sorry if this has been addressed and that it is off topic but is it legal for a store manager to post a completely filled out corrective action form on the bulletin board but leave the name blank on it as a "reminder" that if you don't do something everyday you will be written up.

Isn't that threating your employees and isn't that illegal. We all know what corrective action forms are etc but threatening by posting reminders that you will be written up and forms already filled out. Ummmm...I'm not sure that's legal.

[Jacka]

I agree with prime mover. Screw the Dm's. If they let all the dm's go, the coffee would still taste the same.

[spence]

Helpus,
Hanging a corrective form is not particularly nice but neither is giving them. Could it be that he/she is really tring to avoid that situation? If the SM really wanted to pass out corrective active forms, the SM wouldn't have been obvious about it.
. . . just my thoughts.

[ex coffee wench]

back in the day that was considered a threatening work place and was not allowed. but now that respect and dignity has flown out the window all is fair i guess.

[sad]

april 30th for my location too, in ct... weve been open for not even a year yet, pretty stupid

[SBUX-SM]

ASM's and SM's DO get paid out for any unused vacation time in MA. Not sure if its a MA law or if its a Starbucks thing. Anyone know??

[ex]

going to check with dept of labor tommorrow since I was told it was not mine but only a grant. Including one week from last year that was not used

[SBUX Alum Bill]

@ ex
going to check with dept of labor tommorrow since I was told it was not mine but only a grant. Including one week from last year that was not used

My understanding was that the SBUX "grant" policy enables them to avoid paying unused vacation time to laid off "partners" in all states but California and Illinois. Maybe other states (such as Massachusetts) have since closed this loophole. Go ahead & check with your Department of Labor, but I'm not sure if you'll get anywhere unless you were employed in one of those states.

[Melody]

@asdf - thank you for the information. I've been to that store in Dana Point. Sorry to see it go.

[Melody - @ no name]

Whoa - I just went back and re-read the post by no name.

No name do you mean this Starbucks?

http://www.v2v.net/starbucks/stores/us_636

I am really sorry to hear that. I have been in that store MANY times. It's very close to a sibling's house. That makes me very very sad to hear that store is closing. I've definitely gotten legendary service there. Over this past winter, an incredibly wonderful barista brewed fresh bold coffee for me 15 minutes before closing. It was just what the doctor ordered. Though the barista didn't know it, I'd spent hours at a memorial service for an in-law, and at that moment, I was so thankful to relax for a few moments at Starbucks. I hope that I am wrong, and that store is not the one you mean.

:-(

:-(

[april09partnerofthemonth]

does anyone know how under performing these stores are? on what basis are they closing? like earning under 10 G's a week??

[nycsm]

managers in ma and (I think) a couple of other states accrue vacation hours in the same way hourly partners do. That is why you would be entitled to them upon separation.

[usorthem3]

melody- i just must tell you how privileged i feel to tell you that i'm following you on twitter now! i celebrity such as to get personal recognition from mr schultz! bravo bella! usorthem3

[kalley pharmington]

no they are closing one of our stores in Texas and we do around 14,000 a week but we are located in a brand new shopping center. I think it has alot to do with lease prices like someone said earlier.

[THANKSALATTE!]

Aurora Center store in Burnsville, MN is closing.

[lmd]

anybody know for sure when "the list" is coming out. i was told today, but i read above monday? i mean, i know my store 10670 stockton, ca is closing but i would like to know which other ones in my area.
someone posted that there is life after starbucks - but you don't understand, dear, when i moved to california from hawaii, it took me 6 months to find this job. my age (51) i know had a lot to do with it, because i have a good resume. i am afraid what it will be like now, when so many are looking for jobs too.

[SBUX Alum Bill]

To IMD:

I wrote the post in which I said that those of us who persevere will discover that there is life after Starbucks. I am 53 years old, and I'm also very concerned about being dumped into the current job market. I had originally left a better paying job to join Starbucks because I bought into the corporate culture, and I drank the Kool-Aid with gusto. Now I've learned the hard way that the "partnership" between SBUX and its "partners" is null and void when times get tough. I'M VERY ANGRY ABOUT THE BRAZEN HYPOCRISY OF STARBUCKS & ITS EMPTY BOASTS ABOUT HOW WELL IT TREATS ITS "PARTNERS," but we can't wallow in self-pity. The job market is brutal, especially if you're 50+, but Howard doesn't care. We have to find a way out of this mess, and we'll have to do it without help from SBUX!

[Mary Mocha]

Store 10206 Chesterfield Mall Kiosk in Chesterfield, MO is closing.

[SBUX Alum Bill]

I'm surprised Howie didn't think of this promo:

Dunkin' will help vets with Iced Coffee Day

[Looking4aNewJob]

Store 5599
Grand and Peyton in Chino Hills, CA

[Looking4aNewJob]

Oops, I forgot to add Butterfield and Pine, also located in Chino Hills, CA. I'm not sure what their store number is.

That's around 30 partners that need to get placed and they're all in the same district. These partners are all hoping to transfer or are so fed up with the company that they're all praying to find something else.

[Answer me]

Would someone please tell me why Starbucks closing stores is some kind of injustice to partners? It happens with every company. Yeah, they should just keep wasteful stores open and bring every partner down with them.

[SBUX Alum Bill]

Other companies may close stores, but they don't:

1) Contest the collection of unemployment benefits, only to fail to show up when the DES hearing takes place.
2) Structure their vacation programs so that laid-off "partners" don't get any of their accrued vacation.
3) Provide minimal notice of the closure.
4) Terminate others for alleged performance reasons without establishing any grievance process to review those actions.
5) Do all of the above while boasting that they're a paragon of virtue when it comes to treatment of its "partners."

[tanya]

i know that a store in Aberdeen Center, (Richmond, BC, CANADA) has just closed. i am going to try to get the managaer (a good friend of mine) to post some of her feelings about it on my website (http://www.TheStarbucksForum.com - It's just another place to talk Starbucks!). As for lmd, i hope you don't lose your job, but I know that here in Canada when the store closes they offer you a minimum of two other stores to work at, I hope they have a similar policy in the US!! Good luck :)

[lmd]

Thanks, Tanya for the wishes. i do hope for a transfer. and SBUX alum bill, i am not wallowing in self-pity. i am damned concerned because there is not only me, but a disabled husband to worry about. i am angry with the lack or non-existence of respect and dignity in notifying partners.

[Too Chicken to sign even my fake name.]

I doubt my store is on this next list since we were a Million Dollar store. But it's all changing. A licensed store opened about a month ago right down the street in a great outdoor mall area. After the morning rush it is now not uncommon for 15 or 20 minutes to go by without a customer walking through the door. A ten minute delay happens pretty constantly.
I'm seeing the writing on the wall written by a bold black sharpie.
I'm feeling like I may have to jump ship and move to a licensed store. (sputter sputter mutter mutter)
I went over yesterday to take a look at the place. It was lovely. And packed. I saw a couple of my regulars in line. The had the decency to look down and away hoping I hadn't seen them.
On the positive side, they don't open before the sun comes up.
Are there any true Starbuck partners here that have gone to a licensed store? What should I expect if they hire me? Thanks for any input.

[SBUX Alum Bill]

@IMD
i am not wallowing in self-pity. i am damned concerned because there is not only me, but a disabled husband to worry about. i am angry with the lack or non-existence of respect and dignity in notifying partners.

I am also trying not to wallow in self-pity (as I am now 53yo with mortgage, daughter in college & no income). Like you, I'm extremely angry at the hypocrisy of Starbucks & its self-proclaimed boasts about how great it is to its "partners." I hope we can both find another job soon & discover that there is, indeed, life after Starbucks!

[.]

any other Central Valley, Calif. stores closing?

[The External One]

lean thinking + downsizing stores+stock buy back+staff reduction=FRANCHISE
its happening all ducks are lining up get out while you can this company will be fanchised within the next 18 months

[lmd]

good luck to you Alum Bill..and me..and to all the partners who are in closing stores...sigh. the one positive note tho, Bill, is that my husband has been wanting me to just stay home with him...he may get his wish! :0)

[Teamonger]

Any drive-throughs closing in the Hemet/Murrieta/Temecula area of So.
Cal?

[GW]

One that is in a nice location that I love to sit outside and relax was suppose to close down, we were bummed, but then we heard..they were saved! I say, if you have a favorite that is about to close down, conact starbucks because there is a chance they could change their mind! :)

[Coffee Addict 2]

I just found out that 2 stores in Chico, California are closing--the one on East Avenue by the Safeway and one on Nord. Very upset about the one on East; I go there nearly daily, and it usually seems busy. Also, it is a fairly new store--hasn't been there for more than 2 years, I think.

[lmd]

store 10670 is less than 2 years old too. also heard the store in downtown Lodi, by the theaters, is closing too

[redcup]

Too Chicken - I think licensed stores have been portrayed to be the evil stepsisters for far too long and far too exagerated.

It all depends on the licensee, the partners, and of course, on you. Even though you lost your starbucks partner number and status, you are still wearing that green apron that people recognize from a mile away. So wear it with pride no matter where you are, smile, hold up the standards - they're the same - and thank your customers for coming in.

YOur door with Starbucks will never be completely closed as you work closely with your LIcensed DM, who is a partner, and can still be your connection to the company should you want to come back.

Your door with the licensee is now wide open as you can grow within the company or the parent company should you decide to branch out beyond the walls of your licensed store.

Don't forget that accepting hearsay, gossip, empty promises, etc. as truth has got this company and its people into trouble these past few years. Find out for yourself what is really out there. Talk to some people, do research on the company; if you really love what you do, challenge yourself to do it in an environment that allows you to be more than you think you can, where your path might be not as prescribed.

Corporate doesn't have the monopoly on uplifting experiences, nor has licensed taken that away from the brand. It is you who makes the difference, in your life and in your store, don't forget that!

[Rachelle]

I have a friend that works for Starbucks that told me about this site. My name is Rachelle and I am a studio manager for The Picture People. I found out about all the layoffs and I wanted to invite any one in need of a job to come and apply with us. My studio is located in Southcenter mall in Seattle, and I am currently looking to fill a management position similar to the assistant manager position at Starbucks. I know there are other studios looking to hire as well. If you are interested, feel free to apply at picturepeople.com or stop by a studio and fill out an application.

[Dr. Greenthumbs]

Again Licensed stores are "FAKE" Starbucks and give us a bad and negative image, close all of them first!!