Recently Starbucks had began to slowly open up their locations but now they have decided to close down 400 locations across North America. The closures will happen across the United States and Canada over the next 18 months. They also cut back half their store openings from 600 to 300.
"This reflects the accelerated repositioning of a number of company-operated stores as we blend store formats and strategically optimize our portfolio primarily in U.S. urban markets as outlined above," CEO Kevin Johnson said in an open letter on Wednesday. "This repositioning will include the closure of up to 400 company-operated stores over the next 18 months in conjunction with the opening, over time, of a greater number of new, repositioned stores in different locations and with innovative store formats."
The chain is gearing its plans more to drive-thru's and pickup developments due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published by Thrillist.
For more information: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/starbucks-stores-closing-400-locations-in-the-us