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Is Starbucks Closing Stores In 2022? (All You Need To Know)
Starbucks continues to be diligent in closing many stores and opening new branches across North America.
- You are not alone if you want to know why Starbucks closed its stores and opened more. So I started to wonder about it too. Here’s everything I discovered!
Is Starbucks Closing Stores In 2022?
Starbucks stated in 2020 that 600 North American stores would be closed by the end of the year. This will take place as early 2022. New locations, which are predicted to be more successful than the existing stores will offset these closings. The new locations reflect a shift in customer behavior and will be primarily drive-thrus and to-go stores and counters.
- Read on for details about the closures of the stores, the location changes, and much more! I have everything you need to know!
Starbucks is closing North America locations
Starbucks stated in June 2020, that it will close 400 US and Canadian locations within 18 months.
This announcement was followed up by 100 stores closing in the US and 100 Canada. The total closures now stands at 600.
The closings won’t reduce the number of North American Starbucks locations. Instead, Starbucks will open more stores at once.
Starbucks plans to close its stores in the dense areas of metros, where there is already a significant concentration of Starbucks.
However, it is not known where exactly the closures will take place, although they may include areas such as malls or campuses that are highly trafficked.
This has led to a drop in visitor numbers at these sites due to changing customer tastes and the pandemic.
This trend was evident even before the pandemic. It favoured delivery and pick-up orders and it only has intensified.
Starbucks is closing its locations for a reason
Starbucks is closing hundreds upon hundreds of North America locations. This however does not mean that they have been downsizing, or are retrenchment.
Starbucks will instead close its locations and open new ones, mostly drive-thrus or to-go shops.
These stores are going to be replaced at other locations by more efficient models.
This shift is essentially due to two factors. Starbucks is expecting the new format stores to be more efficient as well as more profit-making.
Second, the closings reflect changes in customer preferences for takeaway services, delivery, and curbside pick-up.
One example is that as many as 80% in all Starbucks sales are made directly from customers’ orders.
This trend will be the determining factor in the placement of Starbucks new locations.
However, the new store formats will preserve the fundamental Starbucks values of convenience and quality.
Are There Any Plans For New Starbucks Stores in the Future?
Starbucks closings of stores is not a new phenomenon. Each year about 100 stores close based upon performance.
Recent closings, however, are much more extensive and driven by changes in sales patterns and customer behaviour trends.
The store openings and closings are a sign of a shift from Starbucks to delivery and take-out locations.
That said, as people adapt to the pandemic conditions and continue working from home, their shopping preferences also change.
Since the number of morning commuters has declined, Starbucks stores have seen a corresponding reduction in morning traffic.
Starbucks customers are more satisfied with their mid-morning, afternoon and weekend hours than the decline in morning Starbucks sales.
The shift from the urban to the suburbs has seen a change in sales. In addition, many cafe patrons are switching to driving-thrus over sitting.
The shift in customer preferences towards delivery and to-go is also due to the mobile ordering option and Starbucks delivery via Uber Eats.
Is This What The New Starbucks Locations Will Look Like?
Starbucks is adapting to these changing customer habits in its new Starbucks stores.
Consequently, the new Starbucks stores will include more double-lane drive-thrus, curbside pick-up, and walk-up windows in urban metro centers.
The new Starbucks Pick-up Stores will be available at the locations. Customers can order from and pay through their Starbucks App.
Further, this is due to the increased online customer engagement with Starbucks during the pandemic, with millions of new mobile app users.
With that, ordering and payments exclusively through the mobile app makes the whole process much quicker and more streamlined.
Additionally, there’s already a Starbucks pick-up store operating at Penn Station in New York City since 2019.
Starbucks’ curbside pickup service is another experiment. It has been very well received. You can anticipate more of them soon.
Our posts include statistics and facts about Starbucks. You can also see our posts regarding when Starbucks Happy Hour is, how Starbucks closes for 24 hours.
- Conclusion
Starbucks recently announced the closing of 600 North America stores.
Starbucks will also open additional locations in equal or greater numbers, so there will be an increase in Starbucks stores during this period.
The new stores will have locations that are more in line with changing customer habits and trends.
These trends point to a shift in urban areas to suburbs or cafes that offer takeout and delivery.
Starbucks’ values of quality, convenience, and service will remain the same at these new Starbucks stores.
Starbucks to Close in 2022
Starbucks announced it would close 600 of its stores in North America by 2022. However, Starbucks will open an equal or larger number of new locations, so the total number of Starbucks stores will actually increase during this period.
Why is Starbucks closing so many stores?
KTVU has been told that a Starbucks representative said the company’s decision to decrease hours and close some stores in the Bay Area is necessary to safeguard customers as well as workers. SAN FRANCISCO – Starbucks is making it harder and more challenging to grab a cup for coffee when they open the doors. It all comes down to COVID, according to the coffee chain.
Why Are Starbucks Closing In Vancouver?
This coffee giant is slowly closing some of its outlets in Burnaby. Burnaby Starbucks customers are becoming increasingly disillusioned.
Is Starbucks Going Out Of Business In Canada?
Starbucks stores across Canada are shutting down, as the company announces that 144 shops will be closed before March 2021. It is part in a plan to shutter 200 Canadian locations within 18 months.
.Is Starbucks Closing Stores In 2022? (All You Need To Know)