Starbucks says it will close about 250 stores in North America later this week as part of an effort to improve performance and customer experience. Multiple outlets describe the closures as targeting underperforming locations. The company frames the move as roughly 1% of its North American footprint of about 18,000 cafes.
The reports agree the decision comes under CEO Brian Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan. Starbucks says it has reviewed its North American portfolio and identified venues where it cannot consistently deliver the experience it wants or where there is no path to acceptable financial results. Outlets also note Starbucks is supporting affected staff, including transfer opportunities where possible and severance support if employees cannot be reassigned.
Coverage differs on operational details: some outlets state closures are already occurring, while others describe them as planned for later this week. Business Insider and other sources note the company does not provide a complete public list of specific locations. Several reports add that Starbucks expects most closures to be completed by the end of fiscal 2026 and anticipates about $300 million in restructuring charges, including lease exit and employee separation costs. Separate reporting also points to an adjustment to Starbucks’ global store-opening targets for the coming fiscal years.
