Starbucks to Close 16 Stores in the U.S. Following Safety Concerns, Will Open New Locations
Gabby Jones/Bloomberg/Getty
Starbucks is shuttering 16 existing locations.
The company announced Tuesday, per The Wall Street Journal, that cafes in Los Angeles; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C., would permanently close by the end of July following safety concerns.
"After careful consideration, we are closing some stores in locations that have experienced a high volume of challenging incidents that make it unsafe to continue to operate, to open new locations with safer conditions," a spokesperson told Insider in a statement.
They continued, "We look forward to continuing to serve these local communities and encourage our customers to visit us at our other stores in these areas, which can be found on the Starbucks App or Starbucks Store Locator."
RELATED: Starbucks to Reimburse Travel Expenses for Workers Seeking Abortions
The full list of closures, per Insider, is as follows:
Santa Monica & Westmount, West Hollywood, California
Hollywood & Western, Los Angeles, California
1st & Los Angeles (Doubletree), Los Angeles, California
Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood, California
Ocean Front Walk & Moss, Santa Monica, California
2nd & San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
10th & Chestnut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4th & Morrison, Portland, Oregon
Gateway, Portland, Oregon
23rd & Jackson, Seattle, Washington
Roosevelt Square, Seattle, Washington
E. Olive Way, Seattle, Washington
505 Union Stn, Seattle, Washington
Westlake Center, Seattle, Washington
Hwy 99 & Airport Rd, Everett, Washington
Union Station Train Concourse, Washington, DC
Representatives for Starbucks did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Insider and Wall Street Journal report that Starbucks' decision follows incidents regarding drug use by customers and other members of the public in certain locations.
A public letter from Starbucks senior vice presidents of U.S. operations Debbie Stroud and Denise Nelson shared the company's desire to make its locations safe for its guests and employees.
"We read every incident report you file – it's a lot," the letter said, in part. "We want you to know that creating a safe, welcoming, and kind third place is our top priority."
The letter said that the programs and benefits "to ensure you feel more supported and empowered" include "robust safety trainings for all partners" and the ability to modify operations, including "closing a restroom, or even closing a store permanently, where safety in the third place is no longer possible." It also said that benefits to "support your mental health" and "help create emotional and financial safety" are available, among other support programs.
RELATED: Starbucks Drops COVID Vaccine and Testing Requirements for Employees After Supreme Court Ruling
Also Monday, CEO Howard Schultz said in a public letter to the company's partners that there is a "need to reinvent Starbucks for the future."
The overhaul plan includes five steps, called "Bold Moves," that will "re-envision how we bring our mission to life; renew the well-being of retail partners by radically improving their experience; reimagine our store experience for greater connection, ease and a planet positive impact; reconnect with our customers by delivering memorable and personalized moments"; and "redesign partnership by creating new ways to thrive together."
RELATED VIDEO: Starbucks Has Officially Changed Its Bathroom Policy
The letter also addressed the "safety, welcoming and kindness" of the stores.
"In a world that is increasingly isolating and often divided, we can operate in a way that knits together the fabric of our neighborhoods. We can expect to protect each other, respect and include each other, and work together to create the kind of safe and welcoming environment we need at work," the letter said.
