Citing crime concerns, Starbucks announced recently that it will close 5 of its Seattle coffee stores. Just like a number of other local businesses, higher crime rates and safety concerns have prompted the coffee store leader to close coffee shops in Seattle and Everett. Those who work at the stores that are permanently closing can choose to be reassigned to neighboring stores.
The store closings in Seattle includes prominent locations in the Central District, Westlake Center, Capitol Hill, Roosevelt and Union Station. Corporate said on Monday that these stores were chosen based on their level of crime and whether crime rates could be lowered.
The coffee giant cited crime concerns for its decision. The Starbucks in the Central District at 23rd Street and Jackson Avenue is also shutting its doors. Neighbor says shots fired and campers are a regular occurrence in the area. Last year, the community was rattled after four people were shot in front of a next-door business, including a 2-year-old toddler.
In addition, there is a total of 16 shops around the U.S. slated to shut down by July 31. Locally, the coffee giant says it has a reinvention plan to create “safety, welcoming and kindness for our stores.” Starbucks’ vision includes re-designing stores to be safer.
The stores in the Seattle area that are closing are:
– 2300 S. Jackson Street
– 6417 Roosevelt Way N.E.
– 1600 E. Olive Way
– 505 5th Avenue S.
– 400 Pine Street
Some maybe happy to see several of these stores on the list. Each location has seen its own share of issues that range from vandalism to arson and destruction. One of the Starbucks closing is at Union Station next door to a Pete’s Coffee shop that closed, and just feet away from the light rail station where a woman was violently and randomly attack just months ago.
