Starbucks to Permanently Close Popular Seattle Location Amid Safety Concerns
Starbucks has announced the permanent closure of its prominent location near Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market amid increased crime in the area.
The store, which was temporarily closed last summer, will not reopen, according to the company. A spokesperson for Starbucks said in a statement to KOMO News, “As a standard course of business, we regularly evaluate our store portfolio to determine how we can best meet our community and customers’ needs and ensure partners are supported in crafting beverages in a warm and welcoming environment.
“We look forward to continuing to serve the community and visitors at our other nearby locations, including the original store at 1912 Pike Place and 1st and University,” the spokesperson added.
Adam Hasson, the leasing agent for the building, confirmed that Starbucks signed an early termination agreement this month to end its lease. When the location was temporarily shut down at the end of July 2024, spokesperson Sam Jefferies said Starbucks was evaluating “how best to offer a warm and welcoming environment for customers and partners [employees] at this store,” according to the Seattle Times.
This isn’t the first time Starbucks has closed a location in downtown Seattle due to safety concerns. In 2022, the company shuttered its Westlake Center location, noting similar issues.
Local business owners and workers expressed disappointment over the decision. “We just saw the for sale signs that went up, and we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s like, actually real,'” explained Deanna Cunningham, the manager of a nearby store. “The main focus is to have your customers feel comfortable, and if that isn’t happening, even if they are busy, it’s so many tourists that that’s their first interaction with Starbucks sometimes, and I understand that can deter people.”
