Starbucks to Close Approximately 250 North American Stores
Starbucks announced plans to close about 1% of its North American cafes, or approximately 250 locations, as part of ongoing restructuring efforts under CEO Brian Niccol. The closures are the second round in his two-year tenure and aim to streamline operations while focusing on improving customer experience at remaining stores. The company expects $300 million in restructuring charges related to these closures, including lease exit costs, employee separation benefits, and asset impairments. For fiscal 2026, Starbucks now projects net new openings of 440 cafes—down from a previous target of 600–650 locations—with most growth expected internationally. Despite the store closures, Starbucks remains optimistic about long-term North American expansion, citing strong development pipelines and continued market opportunities.
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Topics: restructuring retail turnaround_strategy