Starbucks is preparing to close five stores in Washington state, affecting dozens of workers as the coffee giant continues restructuring its North American operations. The closures come as the company works to improve financial performance and reshape its store network.
Starbucks closing stores across Washington
A WARN notice filed with Washington state on October 7 identified 51 workers affected by planned Starbucks closures in Seattle, Redmond, Spokane, and Vancouver.
The five locations include two Seattle stores in Ballard and Rainier Beach, a store in Redmond, one in Spokane, and another in Vancouver. The planned closures are expected to be permanent, with employee terminations scheduled between November 14 and December 4, 2026.
Closures follow broader restructuring
The Washington closures follow Starbucks’ broader efforts to close underperforming stores and improve its customer experience. The company has been pursuing a turnaround strategy focused on faster service, improved in-store experiences, and stronger financial results.
Company leadership has said that some locations do not meet financial expectations or cannot consistently deliver the experience Starbucks wants for customers and employees.
Workers face changes as stores shut down
For affected employees, transfers to other locations may provide an opportunity to remain with Starbucks despite the closures. However, workers who cannot or do not transfer could face job losses as the scheduled termination dates approach.
The Washington closures add to Starbucks’ ongoing operational changes as the company attempts to improve performance across its store network. The final employment impact will depend in part on whether affected workers secure transfers or other positions within the company.
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