Starbucks Closes Stores in New York and Washington

Starbucks is permanently closing dozens of coffeehouses across New York and Washington as part of a corporate restructuring and "Back to Starbucks" turnaround strategy. The company is targeting approximately 250 underperforming or sub-optimal locations across North America, representing about 1% of its total footprint in the United States and Canada.

In New York, the company shuttered at least 17 locations across New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and Western New York, including sites in Buffalo, Rochester, and Yonkers. These locations were closed because they were unable to find a "path to acceptable financial performance." Despite these cuts, New York remains the state with the fourth-highest number of Starbucks locations in the U.S., with roughly 720 stores remaining.

In Washington, the company is closing five stores in Seattle, Redmond, Spokane, and Vancouver, while eliminating eight corporate positions at its Seattle Support Center headquarters. These actions affect 51 workers, including baristas and senior managers, with separations scheduled between November 14 and December 4, 2026. While some employees will be offered transfers, the company noted that most affected workers are not unionized, though union representation exists at the Redmond Retail and Wellesley and Belt locations.