SEATTLE — Starbucks is permanently closing both of their Reserve locations in Seattle — the popular Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill and the Reserve store in SoDo.
On Thursday, September 25, Starbucks announced the closure of multiple locations companywide “where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance,” a statement from the company said.
The coffee chain also announced that it will be “reducing non-retail headcount and expenses” by laying off 900 “current non-retail partner roles and close many open positions.”
That same morning, the following sign could be seen posted on the door of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Pike Street:
A spokesperson for Starbucks confirmed later that morning that both the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Pike Street and the Starbucks Reserve store in SoDo are indeed permanently closed.
KIRO 7 also inquired how many locations are set to close in the greater Seattle area and across Western Washington. Starbucks responded, saying:
“Regarding other closures, the Starbucks app will be updated by Sunday.”
The company added, “Represented status was not a factor in this decision-making process.” Represented status in this context refers to whether or not employees were represented by a union. The spokesperson for Starbucks clarified, reaffirming, “It’s not something we consider when we evaluate whether or not to close a store,” a spokesperson told KIRO 7.
Starbucks said it remains committed to other Starbucks Roastery and Reserve locations across the world, including Roasteries in Chicago, Milan, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
“We’re also exploring possibilities for the former SODO Reserve space at our global headquarters,” the Starbucks spokesperson added.
The following is an additional statement provided by the spokesperson:
“As mentioned during our Q3 earnings call, we reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio through the additional lens of our Back to Starbucks plan to ensure every coffeehouse delivers a warm and welcoming space. We identified coffeehouses where we’re unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect, or where we don’t see a path to financial performance, and these locations will be closed.
Since we’ve already opened numerous coffeehouses over the past year, our overall company-operated count in North America will decline by about 1% in fiscal year 2025 after accounting for both openings and closures. We will end the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 total Starbucks locations – company operated and licensed – across the U.S. and Canada. In fiscal year 2026, we’ll grow the number of coffeehouses we operate. Over the next 12 months, we also plan to uplift more than 1,000 locations to introduce greater texture, warmth, and layered design.
Partners in coffeehouses scheduled to close will be notified this week. We’re working hard to offer transfers to nearby locations where possible and will move quickly to help partners understand what opportunities might be available to them.”
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