Starbucks in SEA Airport’s Terminal A to close, affecting 13 employees

A WARN notice filed by HMSHost lists layoffs affecting 135 Starbucks workers in Seattle and at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), including 13 employees at an airport location that is closing.

The Starbucks in Terminal A, operated by HMSHost, is shutting down. It was not immediately clear which other stores account for the remaining layoffs.

Affected positions include baristas, utility workers, and managers, according to the filing.

“We know customers want more Starbucks at the airport, so we’re disappointed this contract wasn’t renewed following the RFP process,” a Starbucks spokesperson told KIRO Newsradio. “We’ll continue serving customers at our other onsite SEA airport locations and hope to work with the airport to expand our presence at SEA in the future.”

The Terminal A layoffs are expected between Dec. 31, 2026, and Jan. 13, 2027.

KIRO Newsradio has reached out to HMSHost for comment.

Starbucks closing five Washington stores

Earlier this year, MyNorthwest learned Starbucks is closing five Washington stores and cutting eight jobs at its Seattle headquarters.

A WARN notice listed five Starbucks locations closing in Seattle, Redmond, Spokane and Vancouver. The company said these closures are part of those previously announced on Sept. 24.

MyNorthwest covered the Seattle closures in Ballard and Rainier Beach last month.

The other Washington stores are located at:

• Redmond: 170th Ave. NE
• Spokane: 2401 W Wellesley Ave.
• Vancouver: 918 SE 164th Ave.

The company said the closures are expected to be permanent, with terminations scheduled between Nov. 14 and Dec. 4.

These closures affect 51 workers. Some store employees will be offered transfers.

Washington closures follow broader Starbucks announcement

The Washington closures follow the company’s announcement last month that it was closing 250 North American stores.

In a letter to employees, Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said the targeted locations either aren’t delivering acceptable financial results or can’t provide the kind of experience Starbucks wants for customers and employees.

More than 700 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late 2021. Starbucks doesn’t support the unionization effort, and the union and the company have yet to reach a labor agreement.

Grams said Starbucks is continuing to retrofit its North American coffeehouses to make them cozier and more inviting. The company expects 1,500 stores will be retrofitted by Sept. 30, the end of Starbucks’ fiscal year.

“This progress has given us a clearer view of the performance of every coffeehouse,” Grams said in his letter. “While most are benefiting from this overall momentum, some coffeehouses continue to underperform despite the hard work and commitment of all of you.”

Grams said Starbucks remains committed to growing its North American store count.

Starbucks said it will transfer employees to other stores if possible or provide severance support if it cannot place an employee in another location.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio

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