Starbucks lovers around the country, and in the Iowa Quad Cities, may find it a little harder to get their caffeine fixes after the company decided to shutter hundreds of locations in the U.S. and Canada.
In a statement on Starbucks’ website, chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the decision to close stores was not made lightly. “Partners in coffeehouses scheduled to close will be notified this week,” the post said. “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. For those we can’t immediately place, we’re focused on partner care, including comprehensive severance packages. We also hope to welcome many of these partners back to Starbucks in the future as new coffeehouses open and the number of partners in each location grows.”
According to a public Google Docs spreadsheet, over 200 locations have been listed as likely to close as of September 25. The Starbucks on Eagle Ridge Road in LeClaire and on Lincoln Way in Clinton are included in the list.
“Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations,” Niccol’s post read. “This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers. Our coffeehouses are centers of the community, and closing any location is difficult.”