LOCAL NEWS
Starbucks closes 5 Seattle locations, more across the nation, citing increased crime
Jul 12, 2022, 2:05 PM | Updated: 2:31 pm
Photo by Jason Redmond
Starbucks has announced that they will close 16 locations across the country, including five in Seattle and one in Everett due to safety concerns at the locations.
When asked for a comment, a spokesperson from Starbucks was unable to give more information about what crime statistics they were specifically looking at but said that they had several store partners file reports of crime and employee safety.
The five Seattle locations that are closing are located at the following addresses:
- 1600 E Olive Way
- 2300 S Jackson
- 400 Pine
- 6417 Roosevelt Way NE
- 505 5th Ave S
According to the spokesperson, the decision to start evaluating store safety happened shortly after Starbucks’ interim CEO Howard Schultz took over.
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Schultz wrote to workers today:
“Today, we find ourselves in a position where we must modernize and transform the Starbucks experience in our stores and recreate an environment that is relevant, welcoming, and safe, and where we uplift one another with dignity, respect, and kindness. We need to reinvent Starbucks for the future. And to be successful, it will take our collective courage to begin again.”
Of the Seattle locations, 1600 E Olive Way and 505 5th Ave are both unionized.
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When asked about the possible connection between unionized locations and the closures, the spokesperson said that there were both unionized and non-unionized stores closing and that there was no relationship in the decision.
“We’re empowering local leaders, who have emphasized repeatedly that they care deeply about creating a safe and welcoming environment in the community,” the spokesperson said.
Starbucks store managers will decide if bathrooms will be open to anyone as all stores are expected to be redesigned with safety in mind.
With stores set to close at the end of the month, workers are left to transfer to other locations.
