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- Starbucks announced Thursday it would close 1% of its retail stores and lay off 900 non-retail staff.Its flagship Reserve Roastery in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle will be among the closures.The location was among the first unionized Starbucks stores and a prominent backdrop for protests.
Starbucks' iconic Reserve Roastery in Seattle is among the stores the company is closing, Business Insider has learned.
Starbucks on Thursday announced it would close many of its corporate-owned stores across North America, targeting locations where the company said it found it is "unable to create the physical environment our customers and partners expect" or where it doesn't "see a path to financial performance."
A letter was posted on the Reserve Roastery door early Thursday morning, breaking the news that it would close. The store, which had its windows and doors promptly boarded up following the closure, is in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, just minutes from the company's headquarters.
"To our Cap Hill neighbors and friends," it began.
"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of the Seattle Reserve Roastery. This location has been the destination of coffee lovers from down the block and around the world. That you have chosen to share this experience with us is deeply appreciated," it continued.
Brad Cornwell
The letter, signed by "The Starbucks Coffee Company," thanked the Capitol Hill neighborhood for its support and loyalty over the years, adding that the "meaningful connections" forged at the store "will not be forgotten."
"At the heart of it all are our Cap Hill partners, who have gone above and beyond to create the best customer experiences possible," the letter reads, referring to in-store staff, which Starbucks calls partners. "We care deeply about them and are working closely to support them through this transition."
"While this was a difficult decision to make, we remain dedicated to serving you and hope to see you again soon at one of our other Starbucks coffeehouses," the letter concluded.
The Seattle Reserve Roastery was the first Starbucks roastery concept to launch in December 2014. It had a luxurious tasting room and an expansive menu, including alcoholic beverages.
It was also among the first unionized Starbucks stores, with staff members voting to unionize with Starbucks Workers United in April 2022.
Over the years, the Capitol Hill roastery became a prominent backdrop for protests, including a demonstration as recent as Monday, in which staff gathered for a rally to demand a completed labor contract.
Union-represented status was not a factor in the decision to close the store, Starbucks confirmed.
In a statement provided to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Starbucks Workers United, which represents 12,000 baristas across 45 states and Washington DC, said the union would bargain with the company to ensure affected baristas are assigned to new stores in accordance with their preferences.
"Fixing what's broken at Starbucks isn't possible without centering the people who engage with the company's customers day in and day out," the union statement said. "It has never been more clear why baristas at Starbucks need the backing of a union."
A company spokesperson confirmed the Capitol Hill roastery closure when reached for comment by Business Insider, but said Starbucks remains committed to its Reserve Roastery concepts in Chicago, Milan, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
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